• 

' 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GAELIC    FOLK 
TALES 


A  SUPPLEMENTARY   READER 


By 

MARY  GRANT  O'SHERIDAN 

SOt 'Til   M  \lM-4  >N    \\ISCi  »N>IN 


KKV1S1  l>    I  DITION 


HALL&  McCREARY 
CHICAGO 


COPYRIGHT    1909 

BY 

MARY   GRANT  O'SHERIDAN 


PZ 


* 
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Foreword 


This  little  book  is  but  a  glimpse  of  a  fairy  structure 
whose  beauty  has  no  peer,  and  whose  antiquity  antedates 
all  others  of  its  kind,  except  the  Hellenic.  I  have  chosen 
it  out  of  that  which  Julius  Pokarney  calls  "a  fresh  foun- 
tain of  lore  and  legend,  almost  inexhaustible,  belonging 
to  the  Gaels,  to  the  Irish  Gaels."  To  Mr.  Michael  O'Gal- 
lagher  and  Mr.  David  Ryan  Twomey  of  the  Gaelic  Soci- 
ety of  Chicago,  I  am  indebted  for  kindest  assistance  in 
writing  the  notes.  My  book  is  but  a  wee  "chraoibhin," 
yet  I  hope  to  see  the  time  of  its  blossom  and  fruitage. 
How  can  I  better  express  myself  than  in  the  beautiful 
lines  of  Ethna  Carbery: 

"O  little  green  bud,  break  and  blow  into  flower, 
Break  and  blow  through  the  welcome  of  sunshine  and  shower; 

'Twas  a  long  night  and  dreary  you  hid  there  forlorn, 
But  now  the  cold  hills  wear  the  radiance  of  morn! 

O  wind-drifted  branch,  lift  your  head  to  the  sun, 
For  the  sap  of  new  life  in  your  veins  hath  begun!" 

— MARY  GRANT  O'SHERIDAN. 

Chraoibhin  [Cree  veen] :     A  branch. 


490744 

LIB  SETS 


INDEX. 


THE  QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE 7 

THE  FATE  OF  THE  CHILDREN  OF  LIR 60 

THE  ARD  RICH  OF  EIRE 83 

DEIRDRE,  OR  THE  FATE  OF  THE  SONS  OF  USNACH  . . .  1 18 

OISIN'S   TALE  OF   TIR-NA-N-OG 154 

THE  PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER 174 

THE  FAIRY  PALACE  OF  THE  QUICKEN  TREES 211 


The  Quest  of  the  Eric  Fine 


CHAPTER   I. 

IDDEN  away  in  the  hills  of  the  beautiful 
island  of  Eire,  there  dwell  to-day  a 
fairy   people   called   the    Sidhe.      In 
olden  times,  before  the  enchantment 
fell   upon    them,    these   people   were 
large  of  stature  and  comely  of  fea- 
ture; skilled  in  the  arts  of  war  and  peace;  lovers 
of  beauty,  of  freedom  and  of  song. 

The  name  by  which  they  were  called  was 
Tuatha  De  Danann.  They  came  with  their  king, 
Nuada,  to  Eire  and  fought  the  Firbolgs,  the  peo- 
ple who  at  that  time  inhabited  the  island,  and 
being  victorious  they  took  possession.  But  in 
their  last  great  encounter,  the  battle  of  Magh 
Tuireadh,  a  Firbolg  warrior  cut  off  the  hand  of 
Nuada  the  De  Danann  king. 

The  loss  of  his  kingship  went  with  that  of  his 
hand;  for  no  one  with  a  personal  blemish  could 

Eric:  restitution.  Eire  [Ar'-ya]:  Name  of  Ireland  in  the  Gaelic  lang- 
uage. Sidhe  [She] :  Fairies.  Tuatha  De  Danann  [Thoo '  a  h5  Da 
Dan'  ann] :  The  tribes  of  the  God  Danu ;  the  gods  of  the  pagan  Irish. 
Nuada  [Noo'ah].  Firbolgs  [Peer'  bolgs].  Magh  Tuireadh  [Maw 
Tu'  rah] :  Battle  fought,  according  to  the  annals  of  the  Four  Masters, 
between  the  Tuatha  De  Danann  and  the  Fomorians  in  the  year  of  the 
world  3330  on  a  field  in  the  County  Sligo. 

7 


8  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

be  a  sovereign  of  the  Tuatha  De  Danann.  The 
people  chose  in  his  stead  Breas,  whose  mother 
was  a  De  Danann  and  whose  father  was  Baler, 
king  of  the  Lochlanns,  called  by  the  Tuatha  De 
Danann  "Fomorians"  or  sea  robbers. 

Now  the  Fomorians  had  a  foothold  in  Eire,  and 
had  for  a  long  time  exacted  tribute  from  the  peo- 
ple and  otherwise  oppressed  and  harassed  them. 
Breas,  on  becoming  king,  proved  a  true  Fomorian 
outdoing  all  others  in  unjust  and  niggardly  deeds ; 
until  so  great  was  the  burden  imposed  upon  the 
people  by  him  that,  after  a  year  of  secret  meet- 
ings and  discussions  on  the  part  of  eminent  De 
Dananns,  he  was  deposed.  Then  Xuada,  for 
whom  a  silver  hand  had  been  made,  was  again 
given  the  kingship.  And  thenceforth  he  was 
known  as  Nuada  of  the  Silver  Hand. 

At  this  time  each  year  in  the  island  of  FJre, 
the  De  Dananns  were  compelled  to  pay  taxes  to 
the  Fomorians.  There  were  taxes  on  kneading 
troughs,  querns,  and  baking  flags;  and  also  an 
ounce  of  gold  for  each  one  of  their  number.  If 
any  one  neglected  or  refused  to  pay,  his  nose  was 
cut  off  by  the  Fomorian  tyrants. 

\Yhen  Nuada  had  again  become  ruler  of  Eire, 
and  the  time  of  tax  paying  drew  near,  he  called 

Breas  [Briss).  Balor  [Bah 'lor].  Loch'lanns:  Scandinavian*. 
Quern*  [kwinw] :  stone  band  mills  for  grinding  com.  The  picture* 
in  Century  Dictionary  are  taken  from  quern*  in  the  Dublin  Museum. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  9 

a  great  fair-meeting  on  the  hill  of  Usna,  the  place 
where  the  people  came  to  pay.  Also,  Nuada  sent 
for  his  friend  and  councillor,  Lugha  the  Ildana,  to 
attend  the  fair-meeting. 

And  after  a  great  multitude  of  people  had  as- 
sembled from  near  and  far,  they  saw  a  band  of 
warriors  mounted  on  white  steeds  coming  toward 
them  from  the  east.  At  their  head  rode  a  young 
champion,  tall  and  comely,  with  a  countenance 
bright  and  glorious  as  the  setting  sun.  This  was 
the  king's  friend,  the  Ildana;  and  the  troop 
he  led  was  the  Fairy  Host  from  the  Land  of 
Promise. 

He  rode  the  steed  of  Manannan  Mac  Lir, 
Enbar  of  the  flowing  mane.  No  warrior  was 
ever  killed  on  the  back  of  this  steed,  for  she  was 
as  swift  as  the  clear,  cold  wind  of  spring;  and, 
she  traveled  with  equal  ease  on  land  or  sea. 
-Lugha  wore  Manannan's  coat  of  mail;  no  one 
could  be  wounded  through  it,  or  above  it,  or  be- 
low it.  He  had  on  Manannan's  breast-plate, 
which  no  weapon  could  pierce.  In  the  front  of 
his  helmet  were  two  glittering  precious  stones; 
and  one  shone  from  the  back.  Also,  at  his  left 
side  hung  Manannan's  sword,  "The  Answerer"; 

^^x 

Usna[Oos'na]:  This  hill  is  in  Westmeath,  about  ten  miles  from  Ath- 
lone,  the  center  of  Eire.  Lugha  the  Ildana  [Loo'  ah  the  El  dan 'ah]: 
The  All-Knoving-One ;  the  Gaelic  Apollo.  Manannan  Mac  Lir 
[Man'-na-nan  Mac  Leer]:  Son  of  the  Sea;  the  Gaelic  Neptune. 


10  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

and  whenever  he  took  off  his  helmet  his  face 
glowed  like  the  sun  on  a  dry  day  in  summer. 

Hardly  were  the  greetings  of  the  king  and  the 
I  Man  a  over  when  another  company  was  seen  ap- 
proaching the  hill  of  Usna.  Nine  times  nine 
surly,  Fomorian  tax-gatherers  were  coming  to 
demand  their  yearly  tribute  from  the  men  of  Eire. 

When  they  reached  the  place  where  the  king 
sat,  the  entire  assembly — the  king  included — rose 
up  before  the  tax-gatherers.  Then  the  Ildana 
spoke  to  the  king  and  said:  "Why  hast  thou, 
O  King,  arisen  before  this  hateful  looking  com- 
par 

"We  dare  not  do  otherwise"  answered  the  king, 
"for  if  even  an  infant  a  month  old  should  remain 
seated  before  them,  they  would  deem  it  good 
cause  for  killing  us  all." 

Lugha,  the  Ildana,  brooded  over  this  in  silence 
for  a  while,  and  then  he  said :  "Of  a  truth,  I  feel 
a  great  desire  to  kill  all  these  n 

"Thy  deed  would  only  bring  evil  upon  us," 
King  Nuada,   "for  then  the  Fomorians   would 
send  an  army  to  destroy  us  all." 

Nevertheless  the  Ildana,  vowing  that  the  peo- 
ple should  no  longer  be  oppressed,  started  up  and 
rushing  upon  the  Fomorians  dealt  red  slaughter 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  11 

among  them.  Neither  did  he  hold  his  hand  until 
he  had  slain  them  all  except  nine.  These  he 
spared  because  they  had  implored  the  protection 
of  the  king. 

After  Lugha  had  put  his  sword  back  into  its 
scabbard,  he  said  to  the  nine  living  tax-collectors : 
"I  would  slay  you  also ;  did  I  not  wish  you  to  go 
and  tell  your  king  and  all  the  nations  what  you 
have  seen  this  day  in  Eire. 

The  nine  men  then  returned  to  their  own  coun- 
try. When  they  had  told  their  story,  King  Balor 
of  the  mighty  Blows  asked  them  the  name  of  the 
warrior  who  had  wrought  such  woe  to  his 
Fomorians. 

"Behold,  O  King,"  said  they,  "on  the  hill  of 
Usna,  in  Eire,  by  the  hand  of  a  single  man  hath 
our  number  been  thus  diminished;  but  the  name 
of  the  champion  we  cannot  tell  thee." 

But  Kethlenda,  the  Queen,  said:  "This  must 
be  the  Ildana.  It  has  been  foretold  that  he  would 
oppose  our  sway  in  Eire." 

King  Balor  then  called  a  council  of  the  Fomor- 
ians. Among  those  who  came  to  his  palace  of 
Berva  were  Luath,  the  story  teller;  Sotal  of  the 
large  heels,  Tinna  of  Triscadel;  Loskina  of  the 
bare  knees;  Lobas  the  Druid;  and  also  the  nine 

Kethlenda  [Kell'yan] ;  Inniskillen  is  named  for  this  Queen.  Berva 
[Bar'vah].  This  place  is  constantly  spoken  of  in  Irish  Folk  Tales 
as  the  chief  stronghold  of  the  Lochlanns.  It  is  believed  by  some  to 
be  the  same  as  the  modern  Bergen  in  Norway.  Luath  [Loo"  ah]. 


12  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

prophetic  poets  and  philosophers  of  the  Fomor- 
ians. 

They  could  not  decide  what  to  do  until  Breas, 
the  son  of  Balor,  bitter  with  the  thought  of  his 
banishment  from  the  throne  of  Eire,  arose  and 
said:  "I  will  go  to  Eire  with  seven  great  battal- 
lions  of  the  Fomorian  army;  and  I  will  give  battle 
to  Ildana ;  and  I  will  bring  his  head  to  the  palace 
of  Berva." 

All  the  chiefs  agreed  to  have  him  go. 

Ships  were  made  ready  for  the  ocean  voyage. 
Their  seams  were  calked  with  pitch,  and  filled 
with  sweet  smelling  frankincense.  Abundant 
food  and  war  stores  were  also  provided. 

When  the  fighting  men  had  been  gathered  to- 
gether, they  arrayed  themselves  in  battle  dress 
and  set  out  for  Eire. 

As  they  were  about  to  embark,  Balor  said: 
"When  your  work  of  conquest  is  over,  put  your 
cables  around  this  island  of  Eire  and  tie  it  to  the 
sterns  of  your  ships,  and  take  it  to  the  northern 
side  of  Lochlann  and  there  leave  it.  Then  will  it 
give  us  no  more  trouble." 

Breas  and  his  batallions  hoisted  their  many  col- 
ored sails,  loosed  their  moorings  and  were  wafted 
out  upon  the  wide  sea.  They  did  not  slacken 

Sotal  [Sut'tle].  Tris'cadel.  Loskina  [Lus'  kin  na].  Druid, 
in  Gaelic  Draoi  [Dhree];  Tree  worshipers;  a  class  set  apart  and  con- 
secrated to  religion  and  the  preservation  of  genealogies.  All  civil 
rights  were  based  on  the  patriarchal  system. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  13 

speed  until  they  reached  the  harbor  of  Eas  Dara. 
Here  they  landed  and  immediately  began  to  spoil 
and  waste  the  province  of  Olnecmacht,  where 
Bove  Derg  was  king. 

Eas  [Ahs] :  Waterfall.  Harbor  of  Eas  Dara  is  found  on  Ptolomy's  map. 
See  New  Ireland  Review,  Vol.  26.  Olnecmacht:  Very  ancient 
name  of  Connacht. 


14  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  news  of  what  they  had  done  came  to  the 
Ildana  at  Teamhair;  so  the  following  morning 
early,  when  the  point  of  night  met  day,  he  de- 
parted on  his  steed,  Enbar  of  the  flowing  mane, 
and  rode  westward  toward  the  palace  of  Bove 
Derg. 

He  had  not  traveled  far  when  he  saw,  at  a 
distance,  three  warriors  fully  armed  riding 
toward  him.  These  men  were  Kian,  Ku  and 
Kethen,  the  sons  of  Canta.  Kian  was  Lugha's 
father,  and  when  they  met  they  saluted  each  other, 
and  Kian  asked  his  son  why  he  was  thus  speeding 
toward  the  west. 

"I  am  going  to  give  battle  to  the  Fomorians, 
for  they  have  wasted  the  kingdom  of  Bove  Derg." 

When  the  warriors  heard  this  they  said: 
"We  will  go  to  battle  with  you,  and  each  of  us  will 
ward  off  a  hundred  Fomorians." 

"But  first,"  said  the  Ildana,  "I  wish  you  to  sum- 
mon the  Fairy  Host  to  fight  with  me." 

This  the  sons  of  Canta  with  one  accord  con- 
sented to  do,  and  forthwith  they  separated.  Ku 
and  Kethen  fared  south;  while  Kian  rode  north- 
ward until  he  came  to  Magh  Murthemna. 

Teamhair  [Tmy'er]:  present  Tara.  Kian  [Key'  an].         Ku  [Kuhj. 

Kethen    [Ka'   yenn].         Canta    [Kant 'yah].          Magh  Murthemna: 
[Maw  Mur  hev'    na]. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  15 

As  he  journeyed  over  the  plain  he  met  the  three 
sons  of  Tuireann:  Brian,  Ur  and  Urcar,  who 
were  at  deadly  feud  with  the  three  sons  of  Canta. 

"If  my  brothers  were  with  me  now,  we  should 
have  a  brave  fight,  but  as  I  am  only  one  against 
three  it  is  better  to  avoid  the  combat,"  thought 
Kian.  Looking  around  he  saw  a  herd  of  swine 
near  by,  so  he  struck  himself  with  a  golden,  druid- 
ical  wand,  and  turned  himself  into  a  pig. 

No  sooner  had  he  done  this  than  Brian  said 
to  his  brothers :  "Tell  me,  my  brothers,  what  has 
become  of  the  warrior  that  we  saw  just  now  ap- 
proaching us  on  the  plain?" 

"We  have  seen  him"  they  answered,  "but  we 
know  not  whither  he  has  gone." 

"Well,  I  can  tell  you  what  has  happened  to  the 
warrior,  "said  Brian.  "He  has  changed  himself 
by  a  druidical  spell  into  a  pig;  and  is  now  among 
yonder  herd ;  and,  whoever  he  may  be,  one  thing 
is  sure:  he  is  no  friend  of  ours." 

"This  is  an  unlucky  matter,"  said  the  brothers, 
"for  even  if  we  should  kill  the  entire  herd  of 
pigs,  the  enchanted  one  might  escape." 

"There  is  but  one  thing  to  do,"  said  Brian,  and 
then  he  struck  his  brothers  with  his  golden,  druid- 
ical wand,  and  turned  them  into  two  fleet,  slender 

Tuireann  [Ther'an].         Brian  [Bree'  an]. 


16  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

sharp-nosed  hounds.  The  moment  he  had  done 
this,  the  hounds  put  their  noses  to  the  earth  and 
set  off  toward  the  pigs. 

When  the  druidical  pig  saw  them  coming,  it 
made  toward  a  thick  spinney  that  grew  near  by. 
But  Brian  was  there  before  him  and  drove  a  spear 
through  its  chest.  The  pig  screamed  and  said: 
"You  have  done  an  ill  deed  to  cast  your  spear  at 
me,  for  you  know  very  well  who  I  am." 

"Your  voice,  methinks,  is  the  voice  of  a  man," 
said  Brian,  "but  I  know  not  who  you  are." 

"I  am  Kian,  the  son  of  Canta,"  said  the  pig, 
"and  I  pray  you  give  me  quarter." 

Brian's  brothers  had  regained  their  own  shapes 
by  this  time  and  they  said:  "Quarter  you  shall 
have  indeed,  and  we  are  very  sorry  for  what  has 
happened  you." 

But  Brian  stepping  between  them  said:  "I 
swear  by  the  gods  of  the  air,  that  if  your  life  re- 
turned to  you  seven  times,  yet  would  I  take  it 
from  you  seven  times." 

"Then,"  said  Kian,  "since  you  will  not  grant 
me  quarter,  allow  me  first  to  return  to  my  own 
shape." 

"That  I  will  grant  you,"  said  Brian,  "for  I 
often  find  it  easier  to  kill  a  man  than  to  kill  a  pig." 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  17 

Kian,  accordingly,  took  his  own  shape.  Then 
he  said  to  the  sons  of  Tuireann :  "You  are  indeed 
about  to  slay  me;  but,  even  so,  I  have  outwitted 
you.  If  you  had  slain  me  in  the  shape  of  a  pig 
you  would  have  had  to  pay  only  the  eric-fine  for 
a  pig,  whereas,  now  that  I  am  in  my  own  shape 
you  shall  pay  the  full  eric-fine  for  a  man.  And 
never  has  there  been  so  great  a  fine  as  that  which 
you  shall  pay." 

Nevertheless,  Brian  and  his  brothers  slew  Kian 
and  they  buried  him  a  man's  height  in  the  earth. 
But  the  earth,  being  angry  at  their  wicked  deed, 
refused  to  keep  the  body.  Not  until  they  had 
buried  it  the  seventh  time  did  it  remain  in  the 
ground.  When  the  last  turf  was  laid,  and  they 
turned  to  go  away,  a  voice  spoke  from  the  earth 
saying : 

"The  blood  you  have  spilled, 

The  hero  you  have  killed, 
Shall  follow  your  steps  'till  the  doom  be  fulfilled." 

Lugha,  the  Ildana,  meanwhile,  had  traveled 
westward  until  he  reached  Ath-Luan;  and  then 
the  Curlieu  hills;  and  finally  came  to  the 
mountain  of  Kesh-Corran  and  the  great  plain  of 
the  assembly,  where  the  foreigners  were  en- 

Ath  Luan  [Aw  Loo '  an] :     Present  town  of  Athlone.          Curlieu  hills : 
in  County  Sligo. 


18  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

camped  with  the  spoils  of  Olnecmacht  around 
them. 

As  Lugha  drew  near  the  Fomorian  encamp- 
ment, Breas,  the  son  of  Balor,  arose  and  said  he : 
"A  wonderful  thing  has  come  to  pass  this  day, 
for  the  sun,  it  seems  to  me,  has  risen  in  the  west !" 

"It  would  be  better  were  it  so,"  said  the  Druids, 
"but  the  light  you  see  is  the  brightness  of  the 
face,  and  the  flashing  of  the  weapons  of  Lugha, 
the  Ildana,  our  deadly  enemy;  he  who  slew  our 
tax-gatherers." 

By  this  time  the  Ildana  had  come  up  to  them, 
and  he  peacefully  saluted  them. 

"How  comes  it  that  you  salute  us,"  said  they, 
"since  you  are,  as  we  well  know,  our  enemy?" 

"Enemy  though  you  think  me,  I  am  now  come 
in  peace  and  good  will  to  ask  you  to  send  back  to 
the  people  of  Bove  Derg  all  the  milch  cows  which 
you  have  taken  from  them." 

"May  ill  luck  follow  thee  until  thou  get  one  of 
them,"  said  the  Fomorian  leaders  in  loud,  angry 
voices. 

But,  nevertheless,  the  Ildana  straightway  put 
a  druidical  spell  upon  the  plundered  cattle  and 
sent  every  milch  cow  home  to  the  door  of  her 
owner's  house. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  19 

Before  the  Fomorians  could  recover  from  their 
surprise,  the  Fairy  Host  arrived.  They  placed 
themselves  under  the  Ildana's  command;  and  they 
made  ready  for  the  fight. 

The  Ildana  put  on  Manannan's  coat  of  mail 
and  his  breast-plate.  He  took  also  his  helmet 
which  is  called  Cannbar;  and  his  broad,  dark- 
blue  shield  he  slung  from  one  shoulder.  His 
sword  hung  from  his  thigh;  and,  in  his  hand  he 
grasped  his  two  spears,  tempered  in  the  blood 
of  adders. 

When  the  chiefs  and  men  were  all  arrayed  in 
battle  rank,  hedges  of  glittering  spears  rose  high 
above  their  heads.  Their  shields,  placed  edge  to 
edge,  formed  a  firm  fence  around  them.  They 
advanced  against  the  Fomorians,  and  the  Fomor- 
ians, in  no  degree  dismayed,  answered  their  on- 
set. 

Clouds  of  whizzing  javelins  flew  through  the 
air;  spears  were  shivered;  and,  from  the  gold- 
hilted  swords  a  forest  of  bright  flames  arose,  as 
they  clashed  above  the  helmets. 

When  finally  Breas  was  compelled  to  sue  for 
quarter  from  the  Ildana,  all  the  Fomorians 
dropped  their  arms  and  came  to  him  to  ask  him 
to  spare  their  lives, 


20  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

The  Ildana  said  to  them:  "I  do  not  wish  to 
slay  you ;  return,  you  and  your  leader  to  your  own 
country;  and  there  relate  the  deeds  of  prowess 
you  have  seen  in  Eire."  So  they  departed. 

Lugha  missed  his  father,  Kian,  in  the  fight. 
"My  father  is  not  alive,"  said  he,  "for  if  he  lived 
he  would  surely  have  come  to  help  me  in  the  bat- 
tle. And  now  I  swear  that  neither  food  nor 
drink  will  I  take  until  I  find  his  slayer  and  the 
manner  of  his  death." 

Accordingly  he  set  out  with  a  small  band,  and 
hastened  to  the  plain  of  Murthemna,  where  Kian 
had  been  forced  to  take  the  shape  of  a  pig. 

And  it  chanced  that  they  came  to  the  very  spot 
where  Kian  had  been  slain.  Then  the  stones  of 
the  earth  spoke  beneath  their  feet  saying:  "Here 
lies  thy  father,  O  Ildana!  Grievous  was  Kian's 
strait  when  he  was  forced  to  take  the  shape  of  a 
pig,  on  seeing  the  three  sons  of  Tuireann. 
And  on  this  very  spot  they  slew  him  in  his  own 
shape. 

"The  blood  they  have  spilled ; 
The  hero  they  have  killed, 
Shall  darken  their  lives  'till  the  doom  be  fulfilled." 

Then  the  Ildana  caused  a  stone  to  be  raised 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  21 

above  his  father's  grave,  and  his  name  engraved 
in  Ogham.  After  this  his  lamentation  lays  were 
sung  and  his  funeral  games  performed. 

Then  the  Ildana  and  his  followers  went  to 
Teamhair.  They  entered  the  banqueting  hall 
where  the  king  and  his  nobles  were  assembled. 
The  Ildana,  looking  around  the  hall,  saw  the 
three  sons  of  Tuireann  seated  among  the  others. 
He  hastened  to  exchange  greetings  with  Nuada, 
the  king.  Then  he  asked  the  royal  permission 
that  the  chain  of  silence  might  be  shaken.  When 
the  silver  music  of  the  bells  had  died  away,  and  all 
were  listening,  Lugha,  the  Ildana,  stood  up  and 
said :  "O  gracious  nobles  of  the  De  Danann  race, 
I  perceive  that  you  have  given  me  your  attention ; 
and  now,  I  have  a  question  to  put  to  each  man 
here  present:  'What  vengeance  should  be  taken 
for  the  murder  of  a  father  ?" 

All  were  filled  with  amazement  to  hear  the 
Ildana  ask  this  question.  Then  the  King's  voice 
broke  the  deep  silence:  "Explain  thy  meaning. 
Why  hast  thou  put  this  question  to  us?  Surely, 
as  we  all  know,  thy  father  has  not  been  killed." 

"My  father  has  indeed  been  killed,"  said  the 
Ildana,  and  I  now  see  here  in  this  hall  those  who 
slew  him.  And  furthermore,  I  know  the  manner 

Ogham  [O'am]:  The  most  ancient  manner  of  writing  or  making  records 
known  to  Gaels  of  Eire.  There  are  many  stones  inscribed  in  Ogham 
still  extant. 


22  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

in  which  they  put  him  to  death;  even  as  they 
themselves  know  it." 

The  sons  of  Tuireann  hearing  all  this  said 
nothing.  But  the  king  declared  that  if  anyone 
had  willfully  slain  Kian  he  should  atone  for  the 
deed  with  his  life. 

Each  noble  said  the  same;  as  did  also  the  sons 
of  Tuireann. 

"The  persons  who  slew  my  father  are  here 
present,  and  are  joining  with  the  rest  in  this  judg- 
ment" said  the  Ildana.  "Let  all  bear  witness 
that  my  claim  is  just  and  honorable  when  I  de- 
mand, not  their  lives,  but  that  they  shall  pay  to 
me  a  certain  eric-fine." 

Then  Brian  arose  and  said:  "It  is  of  me  thou 
speakest,  O  Ildana,  for  it  has  been  said  that  the 
three  sons  of  Tuireann  have  been  at  enmity  with 
the  three  sons  of  Canta.  We  shall  not  say 
whether  we  have  slain  thy  father  or  not ;  but,  we 
are  willing  to  pay  an  eric-fine  even  as  if  we  had 
killed  him." 

"I  shall  accept  the  eric-fine  from  you"  said  the 
Ildana,  "and  I  now  name  before  this  assembly  the 
fine  I  ask:  The  first  part  is  three  apples;  the 
second  part,  the  skin  of  a  pig;  the  third  part  a 
spear;  the  fourth  two  steeds  and  a  chariot;  the 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  23 

fifth  seven  pigs;  the  sixth  a  hound  whelp;  the 
seventh  a  cooking-  spit,  and  the  eighth  three 
shouts  on  a  hill.  This  is  my  eric-fine  O  sons  of 
Tuireann,  and  it  will  be  for  you  to  set  about 
paying  it  without  delay." 

"We  do  not  deem  thy  eric-fine  too  great,  Ildana, 
but  we  fear  some  hidden  snare  in  what  you  ask," 
said  Brian. 

"The  fine  I  have  named,  and  that  only,  will  sat- 
isfy me  for  the  death  of  my  father"  replied  the 
Ildana.  "Moreover,  I  demand  that  we  enter  into 
a  covenant,  namely :  I  not  to  increase  my  claim ; 
thou  to  pay  the  full  fine  required  of  thee." 
So  they  bound  themselves  on  either  side ;  and  the 
king  and  nobles  of  Eire  were  witnesses  and  sure- 
ties of  the  bond. 

Then  the  Ildana,  arising,  said :  "Listen,  O  sons 
of  Tuireann,  the  three  apples  I  ask  are  the  three 
apples  of  the  garden  of  Hisberna  in  the  western 
end  of  the  world — and  no  other  will  I  have.  Their 
color  is  the  color  of  burnished  gold,  and  they  have 
the  taste  of  honey.  A  champion  possessing  one  of 
them  may  perform  with  it  any  feat  he  pleases,  by 
merely  casting  it  from  his  hand.  Nor  will  he  lose 
the  apple  for  it  will  return  again  to  him  of  it- 
self. The  pig's  skin  I  seek  belongs  to  the  king  of 

Hisberna:  Hesperides. 


24  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

Greece.  This  magical  skin  will  turn  water  into 
wine.  It  will  also  heal  all  the  sick  and  wounded 
people  who  touch  it.  The  spear  which  ye  must 
bring  me  is  the  venomed  spear  of  Pezar,  king  of 
the  East.  In  the  time  of  peace,  its  blazing,  fiery 
head  is  always  kept  in  a  caldron  of  water  to  pre- 
vent it  from  burning  down  the  king's  palace.  In 
time  of  war  its  bearer  is  invincible.  The  two 
steeds  and  the  chariot  belong  to  Debar,  king  of 
Segar.  \Yith  these  steeds  and  chariot,  one  travels 
as  well  on  the  sea  as  on  the  land.  The  seven  pigs  I 
demand  belong  to  the  king  of  the  Golden  Pillars. 
Though  these  pigs  should  be  killed  and  eaten  to- 
day, they  will  be  alive  and  well  tomorrow.  The 
hound  whelp  belongs  to  the  king  of  Iroda.  His 
name  is  Failinis;  and  all  beasts  of  the  forest  fall 
powerless  before  him.  The  cooking  spit  belongs 
to  the  warlike  women  of  Fincara.  They  are  thrice 
fifty  in  number,  and  each  of  them  is  a  match  for 
three  good  warriors  in  single  combat.  These 
women  of  Fincara  have  never  been  known  to 
give  a  cooking  spit  to  anyone  without  being  first 
overcome  in  battle.  The  hill  on  which  you  must 
give  three  shouts  is  the  hill  of  Midkenna  in  the 
north  of  Lochlann.  Midkenna  and  his  sons  al- 
ways guard  this  hill,  and  are  under  geasa  to 

Failinis  [Fawl'een  ish].  Iroda  [Er'oo  ah]:  Norway.  Midkenna: 
The  ungentle;  Gaelic:  Meochavin  [Mee'  5  keen].  Geasa  [gas'sah]: 
mystical  bonds  or  obligations,  corresponding  to  the  obligations  under 
which  the  knights  of  the  middle  ages  placed  themselves. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  25 

allow  no  one  to  shout  on  it.  And  should  you 
procure  all  things  that  I  have  mentioned  you 
shall  not,  I  think,  succeed  in  shouting  on  the 
hill;  for,  Midkenna  and  his  sons  were  my  fa- 
ther's friends  and  loved  him  very  much;  and 
they  will  be  sure  to  avenge  on  you  my  father's 
death." 

The  sons  of  Tuireann  were  so  much  astonished 
on  hearing  this  eric-fine,  that  they  spoke  not  one 
word;  but  arose  and  left  the  meeting  and  repaired 
to  the  house  of  their  father. 


26  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

CHAPTER  III 

Tuireann  heard  their  story  to  the  end ;  then  he 
said:  "Your  tidings  are  very  bad,  my  sons.  It 
was  an  evil  thing  to  kill  Kian,  and  I  fear  you 
are  doomed  to  meet  your  death  in  seeking  what 
the  Ildana  demands.  In  the  Boyne  river,  near 
the  palace  of  Angus,  lies  Manannan's  canoe, 
'The  Wave  Sweeper."  Secure  this  canoe  and 
by  its  aid  you  may  be  able  to  reach  Hisberna  and 
obtain  the  magic  apples.  So  they  set  out  for 
Bruga  of  the  Boyne;  and  with  them  was  their 
sister  Eithne. 

They  found  the  canoe  lying  in  the  river. 
Brian,  stepping  into  it  said:  "It  seems  to  me 
there  is  room  for  but  one  more  person  beside  my- 
self in  the  canoe."  He  began  to  complain  bitterly 
of  its  size;  but  ceased  when  Eithne  told  him  that 
the  canoe  would  assume  larger  dimensions  when 
they  came  to  try  it.  Eithne  was  aware  that  it 
had  the  power-  of  becoming  large  or  small 
according  to  the  number  of  people  who  were  to 
sail  in  it. 

After  all  preparations  were  over,  the  three 
brothers  bade  their  sister  farewell  and  entered 
the  canoe.  They  found  it  large  enough  to  hold 

Bruga  [Broo'  ah]:  A  palace;  Bruga  of  the  Boyne:  The  residence  of 
the  chiefs  of  the  Tuatha  De  Danann.  Eithne  [A 'nah]  Canoe: 
Gaelic  [Kur'  rah].  Manannan's  canoe:  A  cloud  which  becomes 
larger  or  smaller,  according  to  the  number  of  raindrops  in  it. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  27 

themselves  and  their  arms,  and  everything  else 
they  wished  to  take  with  them. 

As  they  quickly  sped  across  the  deep  sea 
chasms  and  green-sided  waves  on  their  way  to 
Hisberna,  they  held  council  as  to  what  course 
they  would  pursue  in  their  quest  for  the  golden 
apples. 

Brian  spoke;  and  said  he:  "Let  us  take  the 
shape  of  strong,  swift  hawks;  then,  as  we  ap- 
proach the  garden,  let  us  have  a  care  for  the 
light,  sharp  lances  of  the  guards.  These  lances 
the  guards  will  certainly  hurl  at  us.  We  must 
avoid  them  actively  and  cunningly;  and  when 
they  have  no  more  left  to  throw,  let  us  swoop 
down  and  fetch  away  an  apple  each/' 

To  this  they  all  agreed.  Changing  themselves 
into  three  beautiful  hawks  they  flew  swiftly  over 
the  tops  of  the  trees. 

The  sharp-eyed  guards  perceived  them,  and 
with  great  shouting  and  clamor  hurled  venomed 
darts  at  them.  But  the  hawks  escaped,  every  one. 

When  there  were  no  more  darts  to  throw, 
fluttering  their  wings  above  the  baffled  guards, 
the  hawks  flew  into  the  trees.  After  resting  a 
moment,  they  rose  in  the  air  again  unhurt  and 
happy,  The  younger  brothers  carried  off  an 


28  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

apple  apiece;  but  Brian  brought  two  with  him; 
one  in  his  talons,  and  one  in  his  beak. 

The  king  of  Hisberna  and  his  people  were  very 
angry,  on  discovering  that  the  hawks  had  car- 
ried off  their  apples.  A  council,  was  called  to 
consider  how  best  the  deed  might  be  avenged. 

Now  the  king's  three  daughters  were  skilled 
in  magic;  and  cunning  in  council.  So  it  was 
finally  determined  that  they  should  transform 
themselves  into  three  swift,  winged  griffins  and 
pursue  the  hawks  over  the  sea. 

Immediately  then,  they  hastened  away.  From 
their  eyes  and  beaks  they  let  fly  bright  flashes 
of  flame  to  blind  and  scorch  the  hawks. 

"Evil  is  our  state,"  now  said  the  two  younger 
brothers  as  they  beheld  their  most  beautiful  wing 
feathers  crisping  and  crumbling  in  smoky  dust 
through  the  heated  air — "evil  indeed  is  our  state 
and  we  will  surely  perish  if  we  do  not  get 
relief." 

"It  is  my  good  fortune  still  to  have  power  to 
change  our  forms,"  said  Brian.  Then,  by  his 
druidical  magic,  he  instantly  turned  himself  and 
his  brothers  into  swans,  and  they  all  dropped 
down  on  to  the  sea. 

The  griffins,  no  longer  beholding  the  hawks 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  29 

before  them,  gave  up  the  chase,  and  the  sons  of 
Tuireann,  without  further  delay,  went  to  their 
canoe  fetching  their  apples  with  them. 

Then  they  set  sail  again  and  glided  swiftly  and 
smoothly  over  the  waters  until  they  came  to 
Greece.  And  when  they  had  landed,  Brian  said 
to  his  brothers:  "In  what  shape,  think  you, 
should  we  go  to  the  king's  court?" 

"We  think  it  best  to  go  in  our  own  shapes," 
answered  the  others,  "that  is  to  say  as  three  bold 
champions." 

"Not  so,"  said  Brian,  "to  me  it  seems  best  that 
we  should  go  in  guise  of  learned  poets  from  Eire, 
for  poets  are  held  in  much  honor  by  the  nobles 
of  Greece."  "How  shall  we  do  that?"  asked  the 
brothers,  "for  as  to  poems,  we  neither  have  any 
with  us,  nor  do  we  know  how  to  compose  them." 

But  Brian  would  not  have  it  any  other  way, 
so  they  consented,  though  unwillingly.  They 
tied  up  their  hair  after  the  manner  of  poets  and 
going  directly  to  the  palace  knocked  at  the  door. 
The  door-keeper  asked  who  was  there.  "We  are 
skillful  poets  from  Eire,"  said  Brian,  and  have 
come  to  Greece  with  a  poem  for  the  king." 

The  door-keeper  departed  to  give  the  message. 

"Let  them  be  brought  in,"  said  the  king,  "for 


30  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

it  is  to  seek  a  good  and  bountiful  master,  whom 
they  may  serve  faithfully  that  they  have  come  so 
far  from  Eire." 

So  they  were  shown  into  the  banquet  hall, 
where  the  king  sat  surrounded  by  his  nobles. 
Bowing  low  they  saluted  him;  and  he  in  turn 
saluted  them.  They  joined  the  feast  at  once 
and  made  merry  as  did  the  others.  And  they 
thought  they  had  never  seen  a  banquet  hall  more 
grand  or  a  household  so  numerous  and  mirthful. 
s  At  the  proper  time  the  king's  poets  arose,  and 
according  to  custom  recited  their  poems  for  the 
company.  When  they  had  finished,  Brian  re- 
quested attention  for  his  poem,  and,  forthwith, 
in  clear,  musical  accents  spoke  the  following 
lines : 

"To  praise  thee,  O  Tuis,  we've  come  to  this  land. 
Like  an  oak  among  shrubs,  over  kings  thou  dost  stand. 
The  honor  be  ours  thy  great  deeds  to  rehearse 
And  claim  but  a  pig  skin  in  pay  for  our  verse. 
Two  neighbors  shall  war  with  an  O  to  an  O ; — 
A  bard  unrequited — how  dreadful  a  foe ! 
Thy  bounty  shall  add  to  my  wealth  and  thy  fame, 
And  the  imnocta  fessa  is  all  that  we  claim." 

"Your  poem  would  doubtless  be  thought  very 
good,  if  one  were  able  to  judge  of  it,"  said  the 

Tuis  (TSosh). 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  31 

king.  "But  it  is  unlike  all  other  poems  I  have 
ever  heard,  and  I  do  not  in  the  least  understand 
its  meaning." 

"Listen,  while  I  unfold  it  then,"  said  Brian. 

"To  praise  thee,  O  Tuis,  we've  come  to  this  land ; 
Like  an  oak  among  shrubs,  over  kings  thou  dost  stand." 

"This  means  that  as  the  oak  excels  all  other 
trees  of  the  forest,  so  dost  thou  excel  all  other 
kings  of  the  world  for  greatness,  nobility  and 
generosity."  , 

'  'Imnocta  f essa' — Imnocta  means  skin ;  fessa 
means  pig;  that  is  to  say,  O  King,  thou  hast  the 
skin  of  a  pig  which  I  desire  to  obtain  from  thee 
as  a  guerdon  for  my  poetry." 

"Two  neighbors  shall  war  with  an  O  to  an  O ; 
A  bard  unrequited — how  dreadful  a  foe." 

"O  means  an  ear ;  that  is  to  say,  O  King,  thou 
and  I  shall  be  ear  to  ear  fighting  with  each  other 
for  the  skin,  if  thou  give  it  not  of  thy  own  free 
will.  And  this,  O  King,  is  the  meaning  of  my 
poem." 

"Thy  poem  would  have  been  a  very  good  one, 


32  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

and  I  should  have  given  it  due  meed  of  praise,  if 
my  pig  skin  had  not  been  mentioned  in  it.  It  is 
a  foolish  request  of  thine,  O  Ferdana,  for  even  if 
all  the  poets  and  men  of  science  in  Eire,  and  in 
the  whole  world  beside,  were  to  demand  that  skin 
from  me  I  would  refuse  it.  Nevertheless,"  con- 
tinued the  king,  "thou  shalt  not  pass  unrewarded, 
for  I  will  give  thee  thrice  the  full  of  the  skin 
of  red  gold:  one  portion  for  thyself,  and  one  for 
each  of  thy  brothers." 

"Thy  ransom  is  a  good  one,  O  King,"  said 
Brian,  "but  I  am  a  near-hearted  and  suspicious 
man,  and  I  pray  thee  let  me  see  with  my  own 
eyes  thy  servants  measure  the  gold ;  lest  they  deal 
unfairly  with  me." 

The  king  granted  his  request,  and  the  three 
sons  of  Tuireann  went  with  the  servants  to  the 
treasure  room. 

But  no  sooner  had  they  begun  to  measure  the 
gold,  than  Brian,  suddenly  sprang  toward  them. 
He  dashed  them  fiercely  to  the  ground;  and 
snatching  the  pig  skin  bound  it  hastily  over  his 
shoulders. 

Then  the  three  sons  of  Tuireann  drew  their 
keen  swords  and  rushed  into  the  banquet  hall. 
The  king's  nobles  seeing  how  matters  stood,  sur- 

Ferdan'a:    Man  of  Poetry;  Fer:  man;  Latin  Vir;  dan:  poet. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  33 

rounded  and  attacked  them.  But  the  sons  of 
Tuireann,  nothing  daunted  by  the  number  of 
their  foes,  hewed  down  the  foremost  and  scat- 
tered the  rest. 

Scarcely  one  of  the  party  escaped  death  or 
deadly  wounds.  At  last  Brian  and  the  King  met 
face  to  face  and  fought  as  great  champions  fight; 
fought  until  the  king  of  Greece  fell  by  the  over- 
powering valor  of  the  sons  of  Tuireann. 

After  the  victory  the  three  brothers  rested  in 
the  palace,  and  healed  their  wounds  by  means 
of  the  apples  and  the  pig-skin. 
:,    At  the  end  of  three  days  and  three  nights  they 
started  on  their  next  adventure.- 

They  went  on  board  the  canoe,  and  soon  left 
behind  them  the  lovely  shores  of  Greece.  Across 
the  wide  seas  they  swiftly  sped,  and  finally  landed 
near  the  palace  of  Pezar,  king  of  the  East. 

Having  fared  so  well  in  their  last  undertak- 
ing, they  resolved  to  put  on  the  guise  of  poets 
this  time  also. 

They  tied  their  hair  in  the  poet's  knot;  and, 
passing  through  the  outer  gate,  knocked  at  the 
door  of  the  palace. 

The  door-keeper  asked  who  they  were;  and 
from  what  country  they  had  come. 


34  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

"\Ye  are  poets  from  Eire,"  answered  Brian, 
"and  we  have  brought  a  poem  for  the  king." 

The  door-keeper  admitted  them,  and  they  were 
conducted  to  the  presence  of  the  king.  The  king 
welcomed  them  and  seated  them  among  the 
nobles  of  his  household.  They  joined  in  the 
revelry  of  the  banquet  hall,  and  when  the  proper 
time  came,  the  king's  poets  arose  and  chanted 
their  songs. 

After  all  the  poems  had  been  rehearsed,  and 
the  sounds  of  applause  had  ceased,  Brian  arose. 
The  king  and  nobles  seeing  him  were  silent  and 
listened  while  he  recited  his  poem: 

"In  royal  state  may  Pezar  ever  reign ; 
Like  some  vast  yew  tree  monarch  of  the  plain. 
May  Pezar's  mystic  javelin,  long  and  bright, 
Bring  slaughter  to  his  foes  in  every  fight. 

When  Pezar  fights  and  shakes  his  dreadful  spear, 
Whole  armies  fly ;  and  heroes  quake  with  fear. 
What  shielded  foe,  what  champion  can  withstand 
The  blazing  spear  in  mighty  Pezar's  hand !" 

"Your  poem  is  a  good  one,"  said  the  king,  "but 
why  do  you  make  mention  of  my  spear,  without 
having  first  obtained  permission  of  me?  Were 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  35 

you  not  aware  that  it  is  not  permitted  to  even 
the  greatest  in  my  kingdom  to  speak  of  my  spear, 
unless  I  have  first  given  him  the  privilege?" 

"This  I  knew  not,  O  Pezar,  and  thy  telling  it 
hath  but  increased  the  ardor  of  the  wish  which 
hath  inspired  my  song.  For  I  desire  thy  blazing 
spear,  O  Pezar,  as  a  reward  for  my  poem." 

"Your  wish  is  a  very  foolish  one,"  said  the 
king.  "No  man  ever  escaped  punishment  if  he 
asked  me  for  my  spear.  The  highest  reward  I 
could  now  grant  you,  and  the  greatest  favor  these 
nobles  could  now  obtain  for  you,  is  that  I  should 
spare  your  life." 

Thereupon,  Brian  and  his  brothers  started  up 
in  great  wrath  and  drew  their  swords.  In  like 
manner,  the  king  and  his  nobles  drew  their 
swords,  and  they  fought  a  deadly  fight.  But 
Brian  in  the  midst  of  the  combat,  drawing  forth 
one  of  his  apples,  cast  it  at  the  king,  and  he  fell 
pierced  through  the  brain. 

Then  the  frightened  nobles  fled,  until  no  one 
remained  in  the  banquet  hall  but  the  sons  of 
Tuireann.  They  searched  the  palace  for  the 
room  where  the  spear  was  kept.  At  last  they 
found  it  with  its  head  down  deep  in  a  great 
caldron  of  water  which  hissed  and  bubbled 


36  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

around  it.  Brian,  seizing  it  boldly  in  his  hand, 
drew  it  forth.  Then  the  three  brothers  left  the 
palace  and  went  to  their  canoe.  There  they  re- 
joiced together,  because  they  had  now  succeeded 
in  securing  three  parts  of  the  eric-fine. 

After  resting  some  days,  they  set  out  to  seek 
for  the  steeds  and  the  chariot  of  the  King  of 
Segar,  for  this  was  the  next  part  of  the  Ildana's 
eric  fine. 

Obedient  to  their  command,  the  canoe  glided 
rapidly  and  smoothly  over  the  green  waves.  At 
last  they  landed  on  the  wished-for  shore;  and 
then  Brian  said:  "In  what  shape,  think  you, 
should  we  go  to  this  court?" 

"Let  us  go,"  said  the  others,  "in  our  own 
shapes,  as  three  hostile  champions,  who  have 
come  to  get  the  chariot  and  steeds  either  by  force 
or  by  good  will." 

"That  is  not  what  seems  best  to  me,"  said 
Brian.  "My  council  is  that  we  go  as  soldiers 
from  Eire,  willing  to  serve  for  pay.  Then,  should 
the  king  take  us  into  his  service,  it  is  likely  we 
shall  find  out  where  the  chariot  and  the  steeds 
are  kept." 

So,  forthwith,  as  soldiers  from  Eire  they  went 
to  the  palace. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  37 

There  the  king  was  holding  a  fair-meeting  on 
the  broad,  level  green  of  the  palace  park.  When 
the  three  warriors  came  near,  the  people  made 
way  for  them.  They  bowed  low  to  the  king; 
and  he  asked  them  who  they  were  and  from 
what  part  of  the  world  they  had  come. 

"We  are  valiant  soldiers  from  Eire,"  they  an- 
swered, "seeking  service  and  pay  among  the 
great  kings  of  the  world/' 

"Do  you  wish  to  enter  my  service?"  asked  the 
king. 

"It  is  with  that  desire  we  have  come  to  Segar," 
said  they. 

So  they  made  a  covenant  with  each  other: 
The  king  to  place  them  in  a  post  of  honor  and 
trust.  They  to  serve  him  faithfully  and  to  name 
their  own  reward. 

They  were  placed  in  the  ranks  of  King  Dobar's 
body-guard.  For  a  month  and  a  fortnight  they 
remained  in  the  palace,  looking  around,  and  care- 
fully noting  everything.  However,  they  saw 
nothing  of  the  chariot  and  the  steeds. 

At  the  end  of  the  fortnight,  Brian  said  to  his 
brothers :  "It  fares  ill  with  us  here,  my  brothers, 
for  we  know  no  more  about  the  chariot  and 
steeds  than  we  did  the  day  we  first  came  thither. 


38  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

Let  us  put  on  our  travelling  array  and  take  our 
arms  of  valor  in  our  hands.  In  this  fashion,  let 
us  go  before  the  king,  and  tell  him  that  unless  he 
shows  us  the  chariot  and  steeds  we  shall  leave 
his  service." 

This  they  did  without  delay. 

When  they  were  come  before  the  king,  he 
asked  them  why  they  had  come  into  his  presence 
thus  armed  and  in  travelling  guise. 

"Of  that  we  have  come  to  tell  thee,  O  king," 
answered  Brian.  "Heretofore  the  kings  whom 
we  have  served  have  trusted  us  with  their  secret 
councils.  We  have  been  made  the  guardians  of 
their  rarest  jewels,  and  of  gifted  arms  of  victory. 
But  thou,  O  king,  hast  not  even  shown  us  thy 
chariot  and  steeds,  which  we  have  heard  exceed 
in  magnificence  all  the  chariots  and  steeds  in  the 
world." 

"A  small  thing  it  is  that  has  caused  you  to 
prepare  for  departure,"  said  the  king,  "and  there 
is,  moreover,  no  need  that  you  should  leave  my 
service.  You  shall  see  the  steeds  this  very  day; 
and  you  should  have  seen  them  before  had  I 
known  of  your  desire,  for  I  have  never  had  in 
my  service  more  trustworthy  soldiers." 

The  king  then  sent  for  the  steeds  and  had  them 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  39 

yoked  to  the  chariot.  Those  steeds  that  were  as 
fleet  as  the  clear,  cold  wind  of  March,  and  that 
traveled  with  equal  speed  on  land  and  on  sea! 

Brian,  viewing  them  narrowly,  said:  "Hear 
me,  O  King  of  Segar!  We  have  served  thee 
faithfully  up  to  this  time,  and  now  we  wish  to 
name  our  own  pay,  according  to  the  covenant 
thou  hast  made  with  us.  The  guerdon  we  de- 
mand is  yonder  chariot  and  steeds.  Give  us  these 
and  we  shall  ask  for  nothing  more." 

But  the  king  in  great  wrath,  said:  "Foolish 
and  luckless  men,  ye  shall  certainly  die  because 
ye  have  asked  for  my  steeds." 

The  king  and  his  warriors  then  drew  their 
swords  and  rushed  toward  the  sons  of  Tuireann, 
thinking  to  seize  them.  The  attack  was  ex- 
pected and  a  sore  fight  began.  Suddenly,  Brian 
sprang  with  a  bound  into  the  chariot  and,  dash- 
ing the  charioteer  to  the  ground,  seized  the  reins 
in  his  left  hand.  Then,  raising  the  venomed 
spear  of  Pezar  in  his  right,  he  smote  the  king 
with  its  fiery  point,  so  that  he  fell  to  the  ground 
and  expired.  And  when  the  red  slaughter  of  the 
fight  was  over,  there  was  no  one  left  to  dispute 
with  the  three  brothers  the  possession  of  the  char- 
iot. 


40  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

Ur  and  Urcar  asked  where  they  should  go 
next. 

"We  shall  go"  said  Brian,  "to  Asal,  the  king 
of  the  Golden  Pillars  to  ask  for  his  seven  pigs: 
for  this  is  the  next  part  of  the  eric-fine." 

Therewith  they  started.  As  they  drew  near  to 
the  land  of  the  Golden  Pillars  they  saw  that  the 
shore  was  lined  with  men  all  armed,  for  the  fame 
of  the  deeds  of  the  great  champions  of  Eire 
was  being  noised  abroad  through  many  lands: 
How  they  had  been  forced  to  leave  Eire  by  the 
hard  sentence  of  the  Ildana,  and  how  they  were 
seeking  and  bearing  away  the  most  precious 
things  of  all  the  world's  kingdoms  to  pay  the 
Ildana's  eric-fine. 

On  account  of  these  reports,  the  king  of  the 
Golden  Pillars  had  armed  his  people;  and  had 
sent  them  to  guard  the  harbors. 

The  king  himself  came  down  to  the  beach  to 
meet  them.  As  soon  as  they  were  come  within 
speaking  distance,  he  bade  them  stay  their  course. 
Then  he  asked  in  angry  tones  if  they  were  the 
three  champions  from  Eire;  they  who  had  over- 
come and  slain  so  many  kings. 

Brian  answered:  "Be  not  displeased  with  us, 
O  king,  for  in  all  this  matter  we  are  not  to  blame. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  41 

We  must  pay  the  eric-fine  promised  to  the  Ildana. 
If  the  kings  to  whom  he  sent  us  had  given  us 
peaceably  the  precious  things  we  demanded,  we 
would  have  departed  always  in  the  same  good 
will  as  that  in  which  we  came.  But,  meeting  ill 
will  and  opposition,  we  have  been  compelled  to 
fight  for  the  attainment  of  our  end.  Unwillingly, 
indeed,  have  we  fought,  yet  none  so  far  have  been 
able  to  withstand  us." 

"Tell  me  now"  said  the  king,  "What  has 
brought  you  to  our  country?" 

"We  have  come  for  thy  seven  pigs"  said  Brian, 
"for  they  are  a  part  of  our  fine.  Thou  perchance 
wilt  have  pity  on  our  hardships,  and  give  us  these 
pigs  in  token  of  kindness  and  friendship  and  not 
compel  us  to  fetch  them  away  by  force." 

On  hearing  this,  the  king  and  his  people 
went  into  council.  After  debating  the  matter, 
they  thought  best  to  give  the  pigs  peaceably,  for 
they  feared  they  might  not  be  able  to  resist  the 
power  of  the  sons  of  Tuireann. 

So  the  king  invited  the  three  champions  to 
his  palace.  They  ate  and  drank  and  slept  on 
downy  beds.  When  they  arose  the  next  morn- 
ing, they  were  brought  into  the  king's  presence, 
and  the  pigs  were  given  them.  Then  Brian,  bow- 


42  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

ing  low  before  the  king  spoke  these  words: 

"Thanks  for  the  guerdon  thou  hast  given, 

Great  king  of  Sicily ; 
Thy  welcome  unto  Tuireann's  sons 

Shall  long  remembered  be. 
And  when  our  deeds  in  happier  days 

Shall  bring  us  praise  and  fame 
In  Eire  green  shall  poet  lays 

Commemorate  thy  name." 

'Whither  go  ye  next,  ye  sons  of  Tuireann?" 
asked  Asal. 

"We  go."  answered  Brian,  "into  Iroda,  for 
Failinis,  the  king's  hound  whelp." 

"My  daughter  is  the  king's  wife,"  said  Asal, 
"and  I  will  go  with  you  to  Iroda,  and  may  be  able 
to  persuade  him  for  her  sake  to  give  you  the 
hound  whelp  freely  and  without  battle." 

"It  gives  me  joy,  O  King,  to  accept  your  prof- 
fered aid,  for  often  in  the  struggles  which  I  have 
had  heretofore  in  the  quest  for  the  eric-fine,  I 
have  wished  for  the  help  of  a  strong  and  friendly 
hand." 

King  Asal  wished  the  journey  to  be  made  in 
his  own  ship;  so  he  commanded  his  soldiers  to 
get  it  ready.  Then  all  went  on  board,  taking 
with  them  much  wealth. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  43 

And  it  is  not  told  how  they  fared  until  they 
reached  the  kingdom  of  Iroda. 

When  they  arrived,  the  shores  were  lined  with 
fierce,  armed  men,  who  were  there  by  order  of 
the  king  to  guard  the  harbor.  These  men 
shouted  to  the  crew  of  Asal's  ships  a  warning 
to  come  no  further.  They  well  knew  it  could 
be  no  other  than  the  sons  of  Tuireann,  bent  on 
acquiring  that  part  of  their  eric-fine  which  was 
the  property  of  the  king  of  Iroda. 

"Stay  here  for  a  while  and  await  my  return," 
said  King  Asal,  to  the  sons  of  Tuireann.  "It  is 
best  that  I  should  go  on  shore  alone  and  meet 
my  son-in-law." 

Accordingly  he  landed  and  went  to  the  king, 
who,  after  he  had  welcomed  him,  asked  what  had 
brought  the  sons  of  Tuireann  to  his  country. 

"They  have  come  for  your  hound  whelp," 
answered  King  Asal,  "and  I  beg  you  to  give  it 
freely  and  without  battle." 

"It  was  an  evil  council  you  followed  when  you 
came  with  these  men  to  my  shores,"  said  the 
king,  "for  no  champions  in  all  the  world  have 
ever  received  from  the  gods  strength  and  favor 
sufficient  to  enable  them  to  obtain  possession  of 


44  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

my  hound  whelp  either  by  force  or  by  my  own 
free  will." 

"It  will  be  unwise  of  you  to  refuse  them/'  re- 
plied King  Asal.  "They  have  gifted  arms,  that 
no  warrior,  however  powerful,  can  withstand. 
Numbers  nor  power  can  daunt  them ;  and,  having 
your  welfare  at  heart,  I  have  come  thither  to  ad- 
vise you  to  give  them  your  hound  whelp  in 
peace." 

But  King  Asal's  words  were  only  thrown  away 
on  the  king  of  Iroda  and  he  angrily  refused  Asal's 
request,  and  spoke  with  scornful  words  of  the 
sons  of  Tuireann. 

Asal,  very  much  troubled  because  of  the  re- 
sult of  his  talk  with  the  king  of  Iroda,  returned 
to  the  ship  where  the  sons  of  Tuireann  were 
anxiously  awaiting  him. 

When  they  heard  how  matters  stood,  without 
delay  they  put  on  their  battle  dress;  and,  taking 
their  arms  in  their  hands,  challenged  the  king  of 
Iroda  and  his  people. 

Then  began  a  fierce  and  bloody  battle.  Though 
nothing  could  stand  before  the  sons  of  Tuireann, 
yet  the  warriors  of  Iroda  were  many  and  very 
brave. 

During  the  course  of  the  fight,  the  two  younger 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  45 

brothers  became  separated  from  Brian,  and  he 
was  completely  surrounded  by  hostile  champions. 
But,  when  he  wielded  the  blazing  spear  of  Pezar 
with  its  deadly  point,  his  foes  fled  before  him. 
Well  they  knew  it  would  be  useless  to  resist  the 
venom  of  that  dreadful  spear. 

At  length,  Brian  spied  the  king  of  Iroda. 
Bravely  he  was  fighting;  hedged  round-a-bout  by 
shining  spears. 

Brian  rushed  through  the  thick  of  the  battle 
straight  toward  him,  striking  down  spears  and 
swords  and  men  as  he  went.  The  king  saw  him 
coming,  and  commanded  his  men  to  fall  back. 
Then  he  and  Brian  fought  like  valiant  warriors 
hand  to  hand.  Powerful,  alert  and  fierce  were 
both,  and  it  was  long  before  any  advantage  was 
gained  on  either  side. 

Brian  seemed  the  more  wrathful  of  the  two; 
yet  he  held  back  his  hand,  for  he  sought  to  tire 
out  his  foe,  not  to  slay  him.  The  end  of  it  all 
was  that  Brian  succeeded  in  seizing  the  king  in 
his  strong  arms.  He  lifted  him  off  the  ground 
and  bore  him  to  where  Asal  stood.  Then  setting 
him  down  he  said:  "Behold  thy  son-in-law.  It 
would  have  been  easier  three  times  over  to  have 


46  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

killed  him  than  to  have  brought  him  to  thee 
alive." 

When  the  people  saw  their  king  a  prisoner, 
they  ceased  fighting  and  peace  was  made.  Also, 
the  hound  whelp  was  given  over  to  the  sons  of 
Tuireann.  They  then  took  their  leave  and  sailed 
away  from  the  shores  of  Iroda  in  peace  and 
friendship  with  the  King;  and  with  Asal,  his 
father-in-law. 

Meanwhile  the  Ildana  was  preparing  for  an- 
other battle  with  the  Fomorians;  a  battle  which 
should  be  known  as  the  second  battle  of  Magh 
Tuireadh. 

The  great  Leech,  Diancecht ;  the  skillful  smith, 
Goibnu;  the  Dagda  and  Ogma, — these  were  the 
ones  who  met  secretly  with  the  Ildana  to  prepare 
the  plan  of  battle.  They  left  nothing  undone 
which  might  help  them  to  a  victory  over  their 
strong  and  vengeful  foe. 

By  this  time,  Ku  and  Kethen,  the  sons  of  Canta 
had  returned.  With  them  came  the  Fairy  Host, 
which  they  had  marshalled  together  from  every- 
where in  Eire. 

But  one  thing  more  remained  to  be  done:  It 
had  been  revealed  to  Lugha,  the  Ildana,  that  the 
sons  of  Tuireann  had  now  obtained  all  those 

Diancecht  [Dee' yan  Ka'yacht].  Goibnu  [Goin' [coin]  yu].  Dagda 
[Daw'  dah].  OgmafO'ma]:  gods  of  the  Tuatha  De  Danann,  the 
chief  of  whom  was  the  Dagda. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  47 

parts  of  the  eric-fine  which  he  deemed  necessary 
to  insure  success  in  the  approaching  conflict. 

So  he  sent  after  them  a  druidical  spell,  which 
caused  them,  soon  after  they  left  Iroda,  to  for- 
get the  cooking  spit  and  the  three  shouts  on 
Midkena's  hill,  and  filled  them  with  great  long- 
ing to  return  to  their  native  home. 

Accordingly,  they  set  sail  without  delay  for 
the  shores  of  Eire,  taking  with  them  the  parts 
of  the  fine  which  they  had  already  secured. 


48  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER   IV. 

Now  it  happened  that  the  Ildana  was  with  the 
king  at  a  fair  meeting  on  the  plain  before  Team- 
hair.  And  it  was  made  known  to  him  secretly 
that  the  sons  of  Tuireann  had  landed  at  Bruga 
of  the  Boyne. 

He  left  the  assembly,  telling  none,  and  went 
directly  to  the  fortress  of  Rath-ree;  and,  closing 
the  gates  and  doors  after  himself,  he  put  on  the 
smooth,  Greek  armor  of  Manannan  MacLir  and 
the  enchanted  mantle  of  Flidas. 

Soon  after  this  the  sons  of  Tuireann  were  seen 
approaching.  The  multitude  which  was  gathered 
together  at  the  fair-meeting  flocked  out  to  greet 
them,  and  gazed  with  wonder  at  the  many  mar- 
velous things  they  had  brought. 

When  they  had  come  to  the  royal  tent,  the 
king  joyfully  welcomed  them,  and  asked  them  if 
they  had  brought  the  eric-fine. 

"We  have  obtained  it  after  much  hardship  and 
danger,  O  King,"  said  they,  "and  now  we  wish 
to  know  where  Lugha  is  that  we  may  deliver  it 
to  him." 

The  king  told  them  that  the  Ildana  was  at  the 

Rath-ree  [Raw  ra'].         Flidas  [Flee'yhas]:  one  of  the  gods. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  49 

assembly;  but,  though  they  searched  everywhere 
for  him,  he  could  not  be  found. 

"I  can  surmise  where  he  is,"  said  Brian,  "It 
has  been  made  known  to  him  that  we  have 
come  to  Eire,  bringing  with  us  charmed,  gifted 
weapons  that  none  can  withstand,  and  he  has 
gone  to  one  of  the  strongholds  of  Teamhair  to 
avoid  us,  fearing  that  we  might  use  them  against 
himself." 

Messengers  were  then  sent  to  the  Ildana  to 
tell  him  that  the  sons  of  Tuireann  had  arrived, 
and  to  ask  him  to  come  to  the  meeting,  in  order 
that  they  might  give  him  the  fine. 

But  the  Ildana  said  to  the  messengers :  "I  will 
not  go  to  the  meeting  yet  awhile ;  but  go  ye  back 
and  tell  the  sons  of  Tuireann  to  give  the  fine  to 
the  king  for  me." 

When  the  messenger  returned  with  this 
answer,  the  sons  of  Tuireann  gave  into  the  keep- 
ing of  the  king  all  the  wonderful  things  they  had 
collected  in  their  journeys.  After  this  the  entire 
company  went  into  the  palace,  and  in  a  little 
while  Lugha,  the  Ildana,  having  heard  how  mat- 
ters stood,  came  also  and  the  king  gave  him  the 
fine. 

Lugha  looked  narrowly  at  everything  that  had 


50  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

been  given  up  to  him  and  said:  "Here,  indeed, 
is  an  eric-fine  sufficient  to  pay  for  any  one  that 
ever  yet  was  slain;  or,  that  shall  be  slain  until 
the  end  of  time!  Vet,  there  is  one  kind  of  fine 
that  must  be  paid  to  the  last  farthing,  namely: 
an  eric-fine — for  it  is  not  lawful  to  hold  back 
even  the  smallest  part.  And,  moreover,  O  King, 
thou  and  the  Dedannans  whom  I  see  here  present 
are  guarantees  for  the  full  payment  of  my  eric- 
fine."  Again  Lugha  looked  narrowly  at  the 
•wonderful  things  which  had  been  brought  to 
him  from  many  lands,  and  said  he:  "I  see  here 
the  three  apples;  and  the  skin  of  the  pig;  and 
the  fiery  headed  spear;  and  the  chariot  and 
steeds;  and  the  seven  pigs  and  the  hound  whelp. 
But  where,  ye  sons  of  Tuireann,  is  the  cooking 
spit  of  the  women  of  Fincara?  And  I  have  not 
heard  that  ye  have  given  the  three  shouts  on 
Midkenna's  hill." 

On  hearing  this,  the  sons  of  Tuireann  fell  into 
a  faintness,  like  unto  the  faintness  before  death, 
and  when  they  had  recovered  they  answered  not 
one  word;  but  left  the  assembly  and  went  to 
their  father's  house. 

To  their  father  and  to  their  sister  Eithne  they 
told  all  that  had  befallen  them.  And  how  now 


51 

they  must  set  out  upon  another  quest  because 
through  the  spells  of  Lugha  they  had  forgotten 
two  parts  of  the  eric-fine. 

On  hearing  this  Tuireann  was  overwhelmed 
with  grief  and  wept  in  great  fear  and  sorrow. 

The  next  morning,  when  the  point  of  night 
met  day,  Brian,  Ur  and  Urcar  accompanied  by 
their  father  and  Eithne  stood  by  the  shore  from 
which  they  were  once  more  to  sail. 

When  their  farewells  were  spoken,  they  em- 
barked, determined  never  to  return,  unless  bring- 
ing with  them  the  two  forgotten  parts  of  the  fine. 

It  was  no  longer  their  privilege  to  use  Manan- 
nan's  canoe.  In  their  own  slower  sailing,  less 
commodious — yet  trustworthy  ship  they  set  sail 
and  sped  forth  over  the  green,  billowy  sea,  in 
search  of  the  island  of  Fincara. 

For  four  full  moons  they  wandered  hither  and 
thither;  sailing  with  the  billows;  and  against 
them.  On  many  shores  they  landed  and  inquired 
of  all  they  met;  yet,  they  were  unable  to  get  the 
least  tidings  of  the  island  where  the  war-like 
women  dwelt. 

At  last  they  met  a  very  old  man,  who  told 
them  that  he  had  heard  of  the  island  of  Fincara 
in  the  days  of  his  youth.  He  said  it  lay  not  on 


52  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

the  surface;  but  down  deep  in  the  waters,  for  it 
was  sunk  beneath  the  waves,  by  a  druidical  spell, 
in  times  long  past. 

Then  Brian  put  on  his  water  dress,  with  his 
helmet  of  transparent  crystal  on  his  head.  Tell- 
ing his  brothers  to  await  his  return,  he  leaped 
over  the  side  of  the  ship;  and  sank  at  once  out 
of  sight. 

He  walked  about  for  a  fortnight  down  in  the 
green,  salt  sea,  before  he  found  the  island  of 
Fincara. 

He  noticed  that  among  many  houses  on  the 
island,  one  was  larger  and  grander  than  the  rest. 
Straightway,  he  bent  his  steps  toward  this;  and 
finding  it  open  entered. 

In  a  large  apartment,  hung  with  gorgeous 
tapestries,  he  saw  a  great  number  of  beautiful 
ladies  busily  employed  at  all  sorts  of  embroidery 
and  needle  work:  and  in  their  midst  was  a  long, 
bright  cooking  spit,  lying  on  a  table. 

Without  speaking  a  word,  he  walked  straight 
to  the  table;  and,  seizing  the  spit  in  one  hand, 
walked  toward  the  door.  The  women  neither 
spoke  nor  moved.  But  each  one  had  her  eyes 
fixed  upon  him  from  the  moment  he  entered;  ad- 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  53 

miring  his  manly  form,  his  beauty  and  his  fear- 
lessness. 

But  when  they  saw  him  about  to  walk  off  with 
the  spit,  they  all  burst  out  laughing!  One,  who 
seemed  the  chief  among  them  said:  "Thou  hast 
attempted  a  bold  deed,  O  son  of  Tuireann.  Dost 
thou  not  know  that  there  are  thrice  fifty  war-like 
women  here  ?  Dost  thou  not  know  that  the  weak- 
est among  us  would  be  able  of  herself  alone  to 
prevent  thee  taking  this  cooking  spit — even  if 
thy  brothers  were  here  to  help  thee  ?" 

"Thou  art  a  brave  and  noble  champion;  else, 
thou  wouldst  not  have  attempted  to  take  the  spit 
by  force  and  without  the  help  of  anyone,  for  the 
danger  is  not  unknown  to  thee.  So,  for  thy  bold- 
ness and  valor,  and  for  the  comeliness  of  thy 
person,  we  will  let  thee  take  this  one  for  we  have 
many  others  beside." 

It  was  with  great  joy  that  Brian  listened  to 
these  words.  Thanking  the  women  of  Fincara, 
he  took  the  spit  and  hastened  to  find  his  ship. 

Ur  and  Urcar  had  remained  in  the  same  spot 
waiting  for  Brian.  As  day  after  day  went  by 
and  he  came  not,  they  began  to  fear  that  he 
would  never  return.  They  were  about  to  leave 
the  place,  having  given  up  all  hope,  when  down 


54  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

deep  in  the  water  they  saw  the  glitter  of  Brian's 
crystal  helmet.  A  moment  afterward,  he  arose 
to  the  surface  with  the  cooking  spit  in  his  hand. 

His  brothers  helped  him  on  board  and  they  all 
rejoiced  together  over  his  success. 

Then  they  sailed  away  toward  the  north  of 
Lochlann,  and  never  abated  speed  until  they  had 
moored  their  vessel  near  the  hill  of  Midkena. 

From  its  smooth,  green  height,  Midkena  saw 
them  approaching. 

He  knew  them  at  a  glance,  and  coming  toward 
them,  armed  for  battle,  spoke  to  them  in  loud 
and  threatening  tones:  "You  it  was  who  slew 
Kian,  my  friend  and  pupil,  and  now  come  hither 
and  fight,  for  you  shall  not  leave  these  shores 
until  you  answer  for  his  death." 

Brian,  in  no  wise  daunted  by  the  fierce  look 
and  angry  speech  of  Midkena,  sprang  ashore  and 
the  two  heroes  attacked  each  other  with  great 
fury. 

The  three  sons  of  Midkena  heard  the  clash  of 
arms,  and  rushed  forth  to  aid  their  father.  But 
just  as  they  arrived  at  the  shore  Midkena  fell 
dead,  cloven  through  the  helmet  by  the  heavy 
sword  of  Brian. 

Now  began  a  fight,  three  on  each  side. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  65 

And  if  men  were  afar  off,  even  in  the  land  of 
Hisberna,  at  the  western  end  of  the  world,  they 
would  willingly  come  the  whole  way  to  see  this 
battle.  So  fierce  and  haughty  were  the  minds  of 
those  mighty  champions;  so  skillful  and  active 
were  they  in  the  use  of  their  weapons ;  so  numer- 
ous and  heavy  were  their  blows;  and  so  long  did 
they  continue  to  fight  without  either  party  giving 
way,  that  the  most  valiant  of  warriors  must  have 
looked  on  with  admiration. 

The  three  sons  of  Tuireann  were  at  last  dread- 
fully wounded;  wounded  almost  to  death.  But, 
neither  fear  nor  weakness  did  this  cause  them. 
The  more  they  were  wounded,  the  more  their 
valor  and  their  fury  arose,  and  with  one  mighty 
onset  they  drove  their  spears  through  the  bodies 
of  their  foes. 

And  the  sons  of  Midkena  fell  before  them  into 
the  long  sleep  of  death. 

When  the  fight  was  ended,  and  the  battle  fury 
gave  place  to  calm  within  the  breasts  of  the 
victors,  they  began  to  feel  the  direful  effects  of 
their  wounds.  They  threw  themselves  full  length 
on  the  blood-stained  sward ;  and  it  was  as  if  they 
were  dead,  for  a  heavy  curtain  of  darkness  fell 


66  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

over  their  eyes.  And  thus  they  remained  with- 
out moving  or  speaking. 

Then  Brian  called  to  his  brothers  for  he  sought 
to  know  if  they  still  lived. 

They  answered  him  feebly,  and  he  said:  "My 
dear  brothers,  let  us  now  arise  and  give  the  three 
shouts  on  the  hill,  while  yet  there  is  time;  for  I 
feel  the  signs  of  death." 

Then  Brian  exerting  himself  to  the  utmost,  and 
disregarding  the  blood  which  flowed  copiously 
from  his  wounds,  stood  up  and  giving  a  hand  to 
each  of  his  brothers  enabled  them  to  rise. 

The  three  sons  of  Tuireann  then  gave,  though 
feebly,  the  three  shouts  that  Lugha  required  of 
them. 

Without  further  delay  they  sailed  for  Eire. 

While  they  were  yet  far  off,  Brian  gazing  over 
the  sea  toward  the  west,  suddenly  cried  out :  "Lo, 
I  see  yonder  Ben  Edar,  rising  above  the  waters. 
And  I  see  also  Dun  Tuireann  toward  the  north." 

Then  Urcar  spoke  from  where  he  reclined  with 
Ur  upon  the  deck:  "If  we  could  but  get  one 
glance  of  Ben  Edar,  methinks  we  should  regain 
our  health  and  strength.  As  thou  lovest  us,  and 
as  thou  lovest  thine  own  renown,  my  brother, 
come  and  raise  our  heads  and  rest  them  on  thy 

Ben  Edar:     Hill  of  Howth.         Dun  [Doon]:  a  fort. 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  57 

breast,  so  that  we  may  see  Eire  once  more.    After 
that  we  shall  welcome  either  life  or  death. 

"Let  us,  once  more,  behold  our  father's  home ; 

On  winding  Liffey,  down  by  Athaclee. 
Old  Frevin's  hill ;  or  Teamhair's  regal  dome ; — 
Then  welcome  life  or  death,  which'er  may  be." 

So  Brian  raised  their  heads  and  rested  them 
on  his  breast,  and  they  gazed  on  the  rocky  cliffs 
and  green  slopes  of  Ben  Edar,  while  the  ship  was 
wafted  slowly  toward  the  shore. 

Soon  they  landed  near  the  northern  side  of 
Ben  Edar,  and  from  there  made  their  way,  little 
by  little,  to  Dun  Tuireann.  When  they  had 
reached  the  green  in  front  of  the  house,  Brian 
cried  out:  "Father,  dear  father,  come  forth  to 
thy  children." 

Tuireann  came  and  saw  his  sons,  all  wounded 
and  pale  and  feeble,  and  his  heart  was  filled  with 
sorrow.  Brian  after  greting  him  said :  "Go,  be- 
loved father,  go  quickly  to  Teamhair;  and  as 
quickly  return.  Fetch  this  cooking  spit  to  Lugha, 
and  tell  him  that  we  have  given  the  three  shouts 
on  Midkena's  hill.  Say  that  we  have  now  paid  the 
entire  eric-fine  and  bring  from  him  the  apples 

Athaclee  [Aw'haw  clee] :  Ford  of  the  Hurdles;  present  city  of  Dublin. 
Frevin  [Fra'win]:  Hill  in  Westmeath  on  the  west  shore  of  Loch 
Owel.  Here,  in  the  ninth  century  resided  Turgesius,  the  Danish 
tyrant  who  met  death  by  drowning  in  the  above  mentioned  Loch. 


58  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

from  the  garden  of  Hisberna  to  heal  our  wounds; 
else  we  die." 

"Alas,  my  children,"  said  Tuireann,  "I  know 
the  stern  Ildana's  mind.  Far  rather  would  he 
see  you  in  your  tomb,  than  that  he  should  possess 
all  the  treasures  this  great  world  can  show." 

"Oh,  father,"  then  said  Brian,  "linger  not  here 
to  mourn ;  go  straight  to  Lugha's  home.  Tell  him 
we  pay  full  eric  for  his  parent's  death.  Is  not  the 
great  Ildana  just  ?  Speed  like  the  wind,  nor  tarry 
long,  lest  we  die  before  thou  return." 

Tuireann  set  out  and  traveled  like  the  wind, 
until  he  reached  Teamhair.  There  he  found 
Lugha.  He  gave  him  the  cooking  spit  and  said: 
"Behold,  O  Ildana,  my  three  sons  have  now  paid 
to  thee  full  eric  fine,  for  they  have  given 
the  three  shouts  on  Midkena's  hill.  But  they  are 
wounded  unto  death;  and  now  give  me,  I  pray 
thee,  the  three  apples  from  the  garden  of  His- 
berna to  cure  them;  else  will  they  die." 

"In  vain  dost  thou  seek  to  restore  thy  sons,  O 
Tuireann;  they  committed  a  wicked  and  pitiful 
deed  when  they  slew  my  father,   and  nothing 
could  avert  their  punishment." 
"For  the  blood  they  have  spilled, 
For  the  hero  they  have  killed. 
The  penalty  is  paid  and  the  doom  is  fulfilled." 


QUEST  OF  THE  ERIC  FINE  59 

"Return,  O  Tuireann,  to  thy  home;  take  with 
thee  the  apples  if  thou  wilt;  yet  powerless  their 
magic,  and  powerless  all  human  effort  in  behalf 
of  those  who,  ere  your  request  was  made,  lay 
cold  as  did  their  victim  on  Murthemna's  plain." 
Heavy  was  Tuireann's  heart  as  he  set  out  from 
Teamhair,  knowing  full  well  he  never  again 
should  hear  the  voices  of  his  sons. 

Eithne,  her  golden  hair  unbound  about  her 
shoulders,  her  dark  eyes  dim  with  weeping,  met 
him  at  the  gateway  of  Dun  Tuireann.  With  her 
he  hastened  to  where  Brian  lay  with  Ur  and 
Urcar  on  either  side  of  him;  for,  together  they 
departed  this  life.  Lamenting  over  their  lifeless 
forms,  father  and  sister  stood  hand  in  hand, 
while  Tuireann  spoke  this  lay: 

O  pulseless  is  my  heart  this  woful  hour  ; 

My  strength  is  gone,  my  joy  forever  fled ; 
Three  noble  champions,  Eire's  pride  and  power, 

My  three  fair  youths,  my  children,  cold  and  dead ! 
Lo,  hear  ye  Tuireann,  your  unhappy  sire, 

Mourning  with  feeble  voice  above  your  grave ! 
Not  wealth  nor  life  nor  honors  I  desire ; 

A  place  beside  my  sons  is  all  I  crave. 

After  this  lamentation,  Tuireann  and  Eithne 
fell  on  the  bodies  of  the  three  young  heroes  and 
they  were  all  buried  in  one  grave, 


The  Fate  of  the  Children  of  Lir 


CHAPTER  I. 

i 

AND  AILBE  lived  in  a  beautiful 
palace  called  Sidhe  Finneachaidh. 
They  had  four  children  whose  names 
were  Finula,  Aodh,  Fiachra  and 
Conn.  Their  mother  Ailbe  was  the 
daughter  of  Oilell  Arann;  and  foster  child  of 
Bove  Derg,  the  king.  While  the  children  were 
still  very  young  their  mother  died.  Their  father 
Lir  loved  Ailbe  and  her  death  caused  him  great 
anguish ;  indeed,  he  too  would  have  died  of  grief, 
were  it  not  that  his  mind  was  turned  from  his 
sorrow  by  his  love  for  his  four  little  motherless 
children. 

When  the  time  of  mourning  for  Ailbe  was 
over,  Bove  Derg,  the  King  said :  "We  mourn  with 
you,  O  Lir,  for  our  foster  child  and,  lest  the  bond 
of  alliance  and  friendship  existing  between  us  on 
her  account  should  be  broken,  I  will  give  you  for 
a  wife  Ailbe's  sister,  Aoife." 

Lir  [Leer)         Ailbe  [Awl '  vah].         Sidhe  Finneachaidh  [She  Fin  $' 
ha]_        Aodh  [A].  Oilell  Arann  [Awl'yeel  ^.h'ran].  Aoife 

[E'fa]. 

60 


THE   CHILDREN   OF  LIR  61 

So  Lir,  glad  with  the  thought  that  Aoife  would 
give  a  mother's  loving  care  to  his  little  ones,  went 
to  the  palace  of  Bove  Derg  and  espoused  her 
and  brought  her  back  with  him  to  Sidhe  Fin- 
neachaidh. 

At  first  Aoife  was  a  very  kind  stepmother  to 
Finula,  Aodh,  Fiachra  and  Conn  and  seemed  to 
love  them  almost  as  much  as  did  their  father  Lir. 
Every  one  loved  them;  even  Bove  Derg,  the 
King,  went  many  times  a  year  to  Sidhe  Finneach- 
aidh  to  visit  them,  and  he  often  brought  them  to 
his  palace  and  was  always  sorry  when  the  time 
came  for  their  return  home,  it  gave  him  such 
pleasure  to  have  them  with  him. 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  Dedannans  to  cele- 
brate the  feast  of  age  at  the  houses  of  the  differ- 
ent chiefs  in  turn ;  and  whenever  the  festival  hap- 
pened to  be  held  at  Sidhe  Finneachaidh  the  step- 
children of  Aoife  were  the  delight  and  joy  of  all 
the  Dedannans,  so  gentle  and  beautiful  were  they. 
This  should  have  pleased  Aoife ;  but  instead,  when 
she  saw  the  children  of  Lir  receive  such  attention 
from  their  father  and  from  all  the  people  who 
came  to  his  house,  she  fancied  that  she  was 
neglected  on  their  account  and  bitter  jealousy 
entered  her  heart  and  turned  her  love  into  hatred. 


62  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

For  a  whole  year  Aoife  plotted  against  the  chil- 
dren, and  planned  to  rid  herself  of  them.  Then, 
one  day,  she  ordered  her  horses  yoked  to  her 
chariot,  and  she  set  out  for  the  palace  of  Bove 
Derg,  taking  the  children  with  her.  Finula  did 
not  wish  to  go,  for  she  had  dreamed  that  Aoife 
was  about  to  bring  some  harm  upon  herself  and 
her  brothers.  But  she  was  unable  to  avoid  the 
fate  that  awaited  her. 

As  they  were  passing  through  a  dark  and 
lonely  wood  on  their  way  to  the  palace,  Aoife  said 
to  her  attendants:  "It  is  my  desire  that  these 
children  be  destroyed,  and  it  is  for  this  I  have 
brought  them  with  me.  I  cannot  endure  to  have 
them  live  any  longer,  for  their  father  has  neg- 
lected and  forsaken  me  on  account  of  his  great 
love  for  them."  But  the  attendants  listened  with 
horror  to  Aoife  and  said:  "The  children  of  Lir 
shall  never  be  harmed  by  us;  fearful  is  the  deed 
thou  hast  contemplated,  Aoife,  and  evil  will  surely 
befall  thee  for  having  even  thought  of  destroying 
these  beautiful  children  entrusted  to  thy  care." 

And  so  they  continued  on  their  way;  the  wicked 
Aoife  still  plotting  mischief  in  her  heart  At  last 
they  came  to  the  shores  of  Lake  Darvra ;  and  then 
Aoife  commanded  the  attendants  to  unyoke  the 


THE   CHILDREN    OF   LIR  63 

horses  and  let  them  rest.  She  alighted  with  the 
children  from  the  chariot  and  led  them  to  the  edge 
of  the  lake  and  bade  them  go  and  bathe.  One  by 
one  as  they  entered  the  pure,  limpid  water,  she 
struck  them  with  a  druidical,  fairy  wand  and 
turned  them  into  four  beautiful  snow-white 
swans.  Waving  the  mystical  wand  she  said : 

"The  words  of  doom  are  spoken ; 
Your  home  is  now  the  wave; 
The  charm  cannot  be  broken, 
From  fate  no  power  can  save." 

When  she  had  ceased  speaking  the  four  chil- 
dren of  Lir  turned  their  faces  toward  her  and 
Finula  said:  "Thou  hast  ruined  us  without  a 
cause;  false  has  thy  friendship  been,  and  evil  is 
the  deed  which  thou  hast  done;  but  we  will  be 
avenged  and  the  doom  that  awaits  thee  is  worse 
than  ours." 

"At  last  thy  wicked  work  is  done ! 
Aoife,  false  and  cruel  one, 
With  fairy  wand  and  fearful  words 
To  change  us  into  snow-white  birds ! 
Upon  the  waters  evermore 
To  sail  and  sail  from  shore  to  shore !" 


64  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

Aoife  answered  them:  "Three  hundred  years  on 
Darvra's  lake ;  three  hundred  more  on  the  sea  of 
Moyle;  and  on  the  sea  of  Glora  in  the  west  three 
hundred  years ;  until  the  union  of  the  prince  of  the 
north  with  the  princess  of  the  south;  until  the 
Taillkenn  come  and  the  voice  of  the  Christian 
bell  is  heard  in  Eire;  and  there  is  no  power  can 
free  you  until  thrice  three  hundred  years  be 
past!" 

But  no  sooner  had  she  finished  speaking  than 
she  was  sorry  for  what  she  had  done.  The  fairy 
wand  dropped  from  her  hands  as  she  stretched 
them  out  toward  the  snow-white  swans  and  said : 
"O  children  of  Lir,  since  I  may  not  now  afford 
you  any  other  relief,  I  shall  allow  you  to  keep 
your  own  sweet,  Gaelic  speech;  and  you  shall  be 
able  to  sing  plaintive,  fairy  music ;  melodies  more 
beautiful  than  any  the  world  has  ever  listened  to, 
and  all  who  hear  them  shall  be  lulled  to  sleep. 
Moreover  you  shall  retain  your  human  reason, 
and  your  lives  shall  be  preserved  until  the  time 
comes  for  you  to  resume  again  your  human 
form."  And  then  she  chanted: 

"Until  thrice  three  hundred  years  are  gone, 

You  shall  keep  the  form  of  snow  white  swan ; 
Your  palace  shall  be  the  pearly  cave 

Moyle;  Gaelic:  Srath  na  Maoile  [Sruh  na  MweeTah]:  Sea  between 
Eire  and  Alhan.  Sea  of  Glora  is  off  west  coast  of  Mayo. 
Taillkenn  [Tal '  ken] :  A  prophesied  Deliverer — Saint  Patrick. 


THE   CHILDREN   OF   LIR  65 

Your  couch  the  crest  of  the  crystal  wave. 
And  though  Lir  shall  call  his  loved  ones  long 

His  only  answer  shall  be  the  song 
Of  white  swans  under  the  night  star  pale 

Singing  together  a  mournful  tale." 

Then  she  ordered  her  steeds  yoked  to  her  char- 
iot and  departed  westward,  leaving  the  four  white 
swans  swimming  upon  the  lake. 


66  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 


CHAPTER  II. 

When  Aoife  arrived  at  the  palace,  the  chiefs 
bade  her  welcome;  and  Bove  Derg,  the  King, 
asked  her  why  she  had  not  brought  the  children 
of  Lir  with  her.  "Because,"  she  replied,  "Lir  no 
longer  loves  thee,  and  he  does  not  wish  to  intrust 
his  children  to  thee,  lest  thou  shouldst  harm 
them." 

The  king  was  greatly  astonished  and  troubled 
to  hear  this,  and  he  said:  "This  cannot  be;  Lir 
knows  that  I  love  those  children  as  dearly  as  I 
love  my  own." 

He  could  not  help  thinking  that  Aoife  had  been 
guilty  of  some  treachery;  so  he  sent  messengers 
in  haste  to  Sidhe  Finneachaidh  to  ask  about  the 
children  and  request  that  they  might  be  sent  to 
him. 

When  Lir  heard  the  message  from  Bove  Derg 
his  heart  was  very  sad,  for  he  felt  sure  that  Aoife 
had  destroyed  his  four  lovely  children.  Early 
next  morning  his  chariot  was  yoked  for  him  and 
he  set  out  with  his  attendants  for  the  king's  pal- 
ace ;  and  they  traveled  with  great  speed  until  they 
arrived  at  the  shore  of  lake  Darvra.  The  children 


THE   CHILDREN   OF   LIR  67 

of  Lir  saw  the  cavalcade  approaching,  and  Finula 
chanted  these  words : 

"I  see  the  shields  and  gilded  mail 

Of  warriors  coming  down  the  vale. 
I  see  their  chariots  advance, 

While  swords  and  helmets  brightly  glance. 
Too  well  I  know  what  brings  them  here : 
This  Dannan  host  and  royal  Lir." 

When  Lir  reached  the  shore  he  heard  the  birds 
speaking  and  wondering  greatly  he  asked  them 
how  it  came  to  pass  that  they  had  human  voices. 

"O  father  Lir,"  said  Finula,  "we  are  thy  four 
children,  and  the  jealousy  of  Aoife  has  caused 
her  to  turn  us  into  birds."  When  Lir  and  his 
people  heard  this  they  uttered  three  long  cries  of 
grief  and  lamentation,  and  after  some  time  passed 
in  silence  Lir  said:  "Alas,  dear  children,  great 
is  my  sorrow  to  find  you  thus ;  yet  I  hope  it  is  pos- 
sible to  restore  to  you  your  human  forms,  and 
this  I  shall  seek  to  do  without  delay." 

But  the  swans  answered  him:  "There  is  no 
power,  O  Lir,  can  break  the  spell  of  the  druidical 
charm  by  which  Aoife  has  changed  thy  children 
into  snow-white  swans.  For  three  times  three 
centuries  we  must  sail  the  waves  of  Dar- 


68  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

vra,  Moyle  and  Glora.  We  may  not  take  our 
human  shapes  again  until  the  union  of  the  prince 
of  the  north  with  the  princess  of  the  south;  and 
until  the  Tailkenn  has  come  and  the  sound  of  the 
Christian  bell  is  heard  in  Eire."  Hearing  this  the 
people  again  raised  three  great  cries  of  sorrow. 

Then  Finula  spoke  again:  "But  the  wicked 
Aoife  has  allowed  us  to  retain  our  Gaelic  speech ; 
and  we  have  also  the  power  to  chant  plaintive, 
fairy  music;  so  sweet  that  those  who  listen  to  us 
could  not  wish  for  any  greater  happiness.  Re- 
main on  Darvra  shore  tonight  and  we  will  chant 
for  you." 

So  Lir  and  his  people  remained  on  the  shore  of 
the  lake,  and  the  swans  sang  their  fairy  music  for 
them ;  and  it  was  so  sweet  and  sad  that  the  people 
as  they  listened  fell  into  a  calm,  gentle  sleep. 

At  the  first  glimmer  of  dawn,  Lir  arose  and 
bade  his  children  farewell: 

"The  time  has  come  for  us  to  part 
No  more,  alas,  my  children  dear, 
Your  rosy  smiles  shall  glad  the  heart 
Or  light  the  gloomy  home  of  Lir." 

Then  Lir  went  to  seek  Aoife  and  when  he  had 
come  to  the  king's  palace,  Bove  Derg  reproached 


THE   CHILDREN   OF   LIR  69 

him  in  the  presence  of  Aoife  for  not  bringing  the 
children. 

"Alas!"  said  Lir,  "It  was  not  I  but  your  own 
foster  child,  Aoife,  who  prevented  them  from 
coming.  She  has  placed  them  under  cruel  spells ; 
and  changed  them  by  her  sorcery  into  four  white 
swans  on  the  lake  of  Darvra." 

The  king  listened  with  astonishment  to  this  sad 
news,  and  when  he  looked  at  Aoife  he  knew  by 
her  countenance  that  Lir  had  told  him  the  truth. 
In  fierce  and  angry  tones  he  spoke  to  her  and  said : 
"Thy  cruel  deed  shall  be  worse  for  thee  than  for 
the  children,  for  there  shall  be  an  end  to  their  suf- 
ferings but  not  to  yours."  And  still  more  fiercely 
he  spoke  and  asked  her  what  form  of  all  upon  the 
earth,  or  above  the  earth,  or  beneath  the  earth  she 
most  abhorred;  and  she  answered:  "A  demon  of 
the  air." 

"That  is  the  form  you  now  shall  take,"  said 
Bove  Derg  and  as  he  spoke  he  struck  her  with  a 
druidical,  magic  wand  and  turned  her  into  a  de- 
mon of  the  air.  She  opened  her  wings  and  flew 
with  a  scream  upward  and  away  through  the 
clouds.  And  she  is  still  a  demon  of  the  air,  and 
shall  be  until  the  end  of  time. 

After  this  Bove  Derg  and  the  Dedannans  went 

Demon  of  the  air:  Gaelic:  Deamhan  Aedhir  [Dune  Ar].  Milesian: 
Same  as  Phoenician ;  the  people  of  Mile,  the  last  of  the  ancient  colon- 
ists of  Eire ;  they  came  from  Spain ;  but,  first  from  the  East  Mile  ; 
Latin  Miletus,  a  soldier. 


70  GAELIC  FOLK   TALES 

to  the  shore  of  lake  Darvra  where  they  encamped, 
and  the  Milesian  people  came  also  and  encamped 
in  like  manner.  For  three  hundred  years  the 
people  in  their  encampments,  and  the  swans  on  the 
lake  conversed  together  sweetly  during  the  day, 
and  at  night  the  swans  chanted  their  fairy  music ; 
the  most  delightful  that  was  ever  heard  by  men. 
And  all  who  listened  to  this  music  forgot  their 
grief  and  pain  and  fell  into  a  gentle  sleep,  from 
which  they  awoke  bright  and  happy. 

At  the  end  of  the  three  hundred  years,  Finula 
said  to  her  brothers :  "Do  you  not  know,  my  dear 
brothers,  we  have  come  to  the  end  of  our  time 
here,  and  have  but  this  one  more  night  to  spend 
on  lake  Darvra?" 

When  the  three  sons  of  Lir  heard  this  they 
were  very  sorrowful,  for  now  they  must  bid  their 
father  and  their  friends  farewell  and  go  to  live  on 
the  dismal,  tempestuous  sea  of  Moyle  far  away 
from  all  human  society.  Early  the  next  morning 
they  came  to  the  margin  of  the  lake  to  say  fare- 
well and  Finula  chanted  this  lay: 

"Our  father  dear  and  friends  farewell, 

The  last  sad  hour  is  near ; 
On  stormy  Moyle  we  go  to  dwell 
In  loneliness  and  fear." 


THE  CHILDREN    OF   LIR  71 

The  four  swans  then  spread  their  wings  and 
rose  from  the  surface  of  the  water  in  sight  of  all 
their  friends  until  they  had  reached  a  great  height 
in  the  air.  Then  resting  and  looking  downward 
for  a  moment  they  flew  to  the  north,  and  alighted 
on  the  sea  of  Moyle  between  Eire  and  Alban. 
With  sad  hearts  the  people  watched  their  snowy 
wings  disappear  in  the  far,  blue  heaven;  and  im- 
mediately thereafter  they  made  a  law,  and  pro- 
claimed it  throughout  the  land,  that  from  that 
time  forth  no  one  should  kill  a  swan  in  Eire. 

Miserable  indeed  was  the  plight  of  the  children 
of  Lir  on  the  sea  of  Moyle.  The  sight  of  the  dark, 
wild  waves  and  steep,  rocky  coast  filled  them  with 
fear  and  despair ;  and  not  only  were  they  sad  and 
lonely,  but  they  were  also  cold  and  hungry. 

And  so  they  lived  until  one  night  a  great 
tempest  fell  upon  the  sea.  Finula  when  she  saw 
the  sky  darkening  over  with  great  rolling  clouds, 
said  to  her  brothers :  "Beloved  brothers,  we  have 
made  no  preparations  for  this  night,  and  it  is  cer- 
tain that  the  coming  storm  will  separate  us;  let 
us  now  appoint  a  place  of  meeting  or  it  may  hap- 
pen that  we  may  never  see  each  other  again." 

"Dear  sister,"  they  answered,  "you  speak  truly 
and  wisely.  Let  us  arrange  to  meet  at  Carrick- 

Alban ;  Scotland.        Car'  rick  na  rone' :  Rock  of  the  fur  seals. 


72  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

narone  as  that  is  a  rock  we  all  know  very  well." 
So  they  appointed  Carricknarone  for  a  meeting 
place. 

At  midnight  a  wild,  rough  wind  swept  over  the 
dark  sea;  the  lightnings  flashed,  and  the  roar  of 
the  great  billows  was  almost  as  loud  as  the 
thunders  of  the  sky.  The  unhappy  swans  were 
scattered  over  the  waters  so  that  not  one  of  them 
knew  in  what  direction  the  others  had  been 
driven.  Toward  morning  the  storm  abated  and 
Finula  swam  to  Carricknarone,  but  she  did  not 
find  her  brothers  there ;  neither  could  she  see  any 
trace  of  them  when,  from  the  summit  of  the  rock, 
she  looked  all  around  over  the  wide  face  of  the 
sea.  She  feared  she  might  never  again  see  her 
brothers,  and  began  to  lament  them  singing : 

"The  anguish  and  woe  of  this  life 

No  longer  I'm  able  to  bear. 
My  wings  are  benumbed  with  the  pitiless  frost; 

My  three  little  brothers  are  scattered  and  lost 
And  I  am  left  here  to  despair. 

Return,  O  my  brothers,  return ! 
Sail  over  the  dark  waves  to  me. 

Once  more  let  me  shelter  you  close  to  my  breast, 
And  soothe  all  your  sorrows  and  lull  you  to  rest ; 

Return,  O  my  brothers,  to  me." 


THE   CHILDREN   OF   LIR  73 

But  hardly  had  she  ceased  singing,  when  she 
saw  Conn  coming  toward  the  rock  with  his  head 
drooping,  and  his  feathers  all  drenched  with  the 
salt  spray.  With  joyful  heart  she  welcomed  him, 
and  together  they  anxiously  scanned  the  waters  in 
hope  of  seeing  their  brothers.  Soon  Fiachra 
came  so  faint,  after  his  long  struggle  against  the 
stormy  waves,  that  he  was  hardly  able  to  answer 
the  affectionate  greetings  of  his  brother  and  sis- 
ter. Finula  spread  her  wings  over  him  and  Conn 
and  said:  "If  Aodh  were  here  now  how  happy 
we  would  all  be!"  And  how  happy  they  were  a 
short  time  afterward  to  see  him  coming  with  head 
erect  and  feathers  dry  and  radiant. 

Many  another  tempest  the  children  of  Lir  lived 
through  upon  the  briny  waters  of  the  sea  of 
Moyle.  Sometimes  they  visited  the  shores  of  Eire 
and  the  headlands  of  Alban;  but  they  could  re- 
main away  for  only  a  short  period  of  time,  as  the 
fetters  of  the  fairy  charm  bound  them  to  return 
again  to  the  sea  stream  of  Moyle.  One  day  they 
came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Bann,  on  the  north  coast 
of  Eire,  and  looking  inland  they  saw  a  troop  of 
horsemen  coming  from  the  southwest.  They  were 
mounted  on  white  steeds  and  clad  in  bright  col- 


74  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

ored  garments;  and  as  they  moved  toward  the 
shore  their  arms  glittered  in  the  sunlight. 

The  swans  swam  toward  the  shore  in  order  to 
find  out  who  the  strangers  were.  It  happened 
also  that  the  cavalcade  espied  the  swans  and  di- 
rected their  course  toward  them,  until  they  were 
within  speaking  distance.  These  mounted  men 
were  a  third  part  of  the  Fairy  Host  and  were 
commanded  by  the  two  sons  of  Bove  Derg:  Aed, 
the  keen  witted;  and  Fergus,  the  chess  player. 
They  had  been  searching  for  the  children  of  Lir 
along  the  northern  shores  of  Eire,  and  they  were 
very  joyful  when  they  found  them.  Tender  words 
of  greeting  were  exchanged  by  them  and  the 
snow  white  swans,  and  the  chiefs  gave  to  the  un- 
happy children  of  Lir  tidings  of  their  father  and 
their  friends.  But  soon  they  bade  each  other 
farewell,  for  the  swans  could  not  remain  longer 
away  from  Moyle.  As  the  fairy  cavalcade  moved 
away  their  heard  the  sweet,  sad  voice  of  Finula 
chanting: 

"Ah,  happy  is  Lir's  bright  home  today, 

With  mead  and  music  and  poet's  lay ; 

But  gloomy  and  cold  his  children  roam 

Forever  tossed  on  the  briny  foam. 
On  Moyle's  dark  current  our  food  and  wine 


THE   CHILDREN   OF  LIR  75 

Are  sandy  sea  weed  and  bitter  brine. 
Lonely  we  swim  on  the  billowy  main 

Through  frost  and  snow;  through  storm  and  rain; 
But  rich  was  our  raiment,  long,  long  ago; 

Mantles  of  purple  and  furs  of  snow ; 
And  gaily  we  feasted  in  days  of  old 

And  drank  sweet  nectar  from  cups  of  gold." 

As  soon  as  the  Fairy  Host  had  returned  to 
Sidhe  Finneachaidh  they  related  all  that  had  hap- 
pened, and  described  the  condition  of  the  children 
of  Lir.  Then  the  Dedannan  chiefs  said:  "We 
would  gladly  help  them  were  it  in  our  power,  but 
it  is  not.  Still  we  may  find  comfort  in  the  thought 
that  the  enchantment  will  at  length  be  broken, 
and  the  white  swans  once  more  resume  their 
human  forms." 

When  the  three  hundred  years  on  the  sea  of 
Moyle  were  ended,  the  swans  flew  westward  to 
the  sea  of  Glora.  And  it  happened  that  a  young 
man  named  Ebric,  who  lived  near  the  sea,  ob- 
served the  birds  and  heard  their  singing.  He 
took  great  delight  in  listening  to  them,  and  al- 
most every  day  he  walked  down  to  the  sea  to 
look  at  them  and  converse  with  them.  And  they 
grew  to  love  each  other  very  much;  and  it  was 


76  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

he  who  in  the  old  days  wrote  down  the  story  of 
the  snow-white  swans. 

The  children  of  Lir  sailed,  as  they  were 
destined  to  do,  for  three  hundred  years  on  the  sea 
of  Glora ;  and,  when  at  last  the  time  was  past,  Fin- 
ula  said :  "Come  brothers,  our  time  upon  the  seas 
is  over ;  let  us  now  go  to  visit  our  father  and  our 
people."  How  glad  the  brothers  were  to  hear 
this !  They  all  spread  their  snowy  wings  and  ris- 
ing lightly  from  the  face  of  the  water  flew  east- 
ward to  Sidhe  Finneachaidh.  But  when  they 
alighted,  they  found  the  place  deserted  and  sol- 
itary. Its  halls  were  ruined  and  overgrown  with 
rank  grass  and  forests  of  nettles.  All  was  dark, 
and  lonely,  and  nowhere  was  there  anything  to 
show  that  human  beings  dwelt  there. 

The  four  swans  drew  close  together  and  ut- 
tered three  loud,  mournful  cries  of  sorrow;  and 
Finula  sang: 

"The  house  of  my  father  is  joyless  and  lone  ; 

Its  halls  and  its  gardens  with  weeds  overgrown. 
No  warrior  noble  nor  beautiful  maid, 

In  bright  silken  garments  and  jewels  arrayed. 
No  shield  nor  keen  sword  on  the  dark  lofty  walls; 

No  music  to  brighten  its  desolate  halls." 

All  that  night  the  swans  sang  together  mel- 


THE  CHILDREN   OF   LIR  77 

odies  so  sad  and  beautiful  that  the  very  trees 
around  the  deserted  palace  wept  as  the  strains  vi- 
brated through  their  branches. 


78  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER  III. 

Early  next  morning  the  children  of  Lir  left 
Sidhe  Finneachaidh  and  flew  westward  to  a  small 
lake  near  Innis  Glora.  They  alighted  on  its 
waters  and  began  to  sing  so  sweetly  that  all  the 
birds  of  the  forest  near  by  gathered  on  the  shores 
to  listen ;  and  the  little  lake  came  to  be  known  as 
the  lake  of  the  bird-flocks. 

During  the  day  the  birds  used  to  fly  to  distant 
points  on  the  coast  in  order  to  find  food:  now  to 
Achill;  now  to  Inniskea  of  the  lonely  crane  and 
sometimes  southward  to  Bonn's  sea  rocks.  But 
every  night  they  returned  to  Innis  Glora.  In  this 
manner  they  lived  until  the  Taillkenn  brought 
the  Christian  faith  to  Eire,  and  Saint  Kemoc 
came  to  Innis  Glora. 

When  first  the  swans  heard  Saint  Kemoc  ring- 
ing his  bell  at  early  matin  time,  they  trembled  at 
the  strange  sound,  and  did  not  know  whether  to 
be  joyful  or  afraid,  until  Finula  said:  "My 
brothers,  this  faint,  sweet  sound  we  hear  is  the 
voice  of  the  Christian  bell ;  and  now  the  end  of  our 
suffering  is  near  for  with  the  ringing  of  this  bell 
comes  freedom  from  Aoife's  spell." 


THE    CHILDREN    OF    LIR  79 

"Listen,  O  swans,  to  the  sound  of  the  bell, 

The  sweet  bell  we've  dreamed  of  for  many  a  year, 
Its  tones  floating  by  on  the  night  breezes  tell 
That  the  end  of  our  long  day  of  sorrow  is  near. 

Oh  trust  in  the  glorious  Lord  of  the  sky; 

He  will  free  us  from  Aoife's  magical  spell. 
Be  thankful  and  glad  that  our  freedom  is  nigh, 

And  listen  with  joy  to  the  sound  of  the  bell." 

When  Kemoc,  the  cleric,  had  finished  his 
matins  the  swans  chanted  a  low,  sweet  strain  of 
fairy  music  in  praise  of  the  great  high  King  of 
heaven  and  earth.  Kemoc  heard  it  and  listened 
with  great  wonder,  and  while  he  listened  it  was 
revealed  to  him  that  it  was  the  children  of  Lir 
whom  he  had  heard  singing.  So,  as  soon  as  it 
was  dawn,  he  went  to  the  shore  of  the  lake  and 
there  he  saw  the  four  white  swans  swimming  on 
the  water.  "Are  you  not  the  children  of  Lir?" 
he  said  to  them. 

"We  are  indeed  Lir's  children,"  said  they. 
"Long  ago  we  were  changed  into  swans  by  our 
jealous  stepmother." 

"I  give  God  thanks  that  I  have  found  you," 
said  Kemoc.  "It  is  on  your  account  that  I  have 
come  to  this  little  island  in  preference  to  all  other 
islands  in  Eire.  Come  now  to  land  and  trust  in 


80  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

me,  for  it  is  in  this  place  that  you  are  destined  to 
be  freed  from  your  enchantment." 

It  filled  their  hearts  with  joy  to  hear  Kemoc 
speaking  thus,  and  they  swam  to  shore  and  placed 
themselves  in  his  care.  He  brought  them  to  his 
own  home  and,  sending  for  a  skilful  workman,  he 
directed  him  to  make  two  bright  slender  chains 
of  silver  and  he  put  one  between  Finula  and 
Aodh ;  and  one  between  Fiachra  and  Conn.  And 
so  they  lived  with  him,  listening  to  his  instruc- 
tions, and  joining  in  his  devotions.  And  the  holy 
cleric  loved  them  with  all  his  heart  and  the  mem- 
ory of  all  the  misery  they  had  suffered  caused 
them  neither  distress  nor  sorrow. 

At  this  time  Largnen,  the  son  of  Colman,  was 
king  of  Connacht;  and,  his  queen  was  Decca, 
daughter  of  the  king  of  Munster,  the  same  king 
and  queen  of  whom  Aoife  had  spoken  so  long  be- 
fore in  her  prophecy.  Queen  Decca  heard  of  the 
wonderful,  speaking  swans,  and  their  sad  story 
filled  her  heart  with  love  and  sympathy;  and  she 
desired  very  much  to  have  them  with  her  at  the 
royal  palace.  She  besought  the  king  to  get  them 
for  her,  but  Largnen  said  he  did  not  wish  to  ask 
them  from  Kemoc.  Decca,  however,  was  de- 
termined to  have  the  swans ;  so  she  left  the  palace 


81 

that  very  hour  and  fled  southward  toward  her 
father's  home. 

Largnen,  when  he  found  that  she  was  gone, 
sent  messengers  after  her  to  say  that  if  she  would 
return  he  would  ask  Kemoc  for  the  swans.  The 
messengers  overtook  her  at  Killaloe,  and  she  re- 
turned with  them  to  the  palace,  happy  with  the 
thought  of  having  the  snow  white  swans  for  her 
own. 

But  Kemoc  refused  Largnen's  request  for  the 
birds ;  and  this  made  him  very  angry.  He  set  out 
at  once  for  the  cleric's  house,  and  being  very 
wroth  he  seized  the  swans  and  hurried  away  with 
them,  intending  to  bring  them  by  force  to  the 
queen.  He  had  gone  but  a  little  way  when  the 
swans'  beautiful,  white  feathers  seemed  to  melt  in 
the  air  and  then  entirely  vanished ;  and,  although 
nobody  could  tell  after  beholding  it  how  it  came 
to  pass,  the  swans  regained  their  human  shapes. 
But  not  as  children  did  they  appear;  on  the 
contrary,  they  were  feeble,  white  haired  and 
wrinkled. 

The  king,  on  beholding  them  thus,  started  with 
affright  and  instantly  left  the  place  without 
speaking  a  word.  Kemoc,  looking  after  him,  re- 
proached him  bitterly ;  but  Finula  said :  "Do  not 

Largnen  [Larn '  yen]. 


82  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

grieve  for  us,  O  Kemoc,  but  baptize  us  without 
delay;  for  the  time  is  near  for  our  departure  from 
this  life.  Make  our  grave  on  this  spot  and  bury 
us  together.  Place  us  as  we  have  often  nestled 
together  when  we  were  swans:  Conn  standing 
near  me  at  my  right  side ;  Fiachra  at  my  left  and 
Aodh  looking  into  my  face.  So  then  the  holy 
cleric,  Saint  Kemoc,  baptized  them,  and  they 
closed  their  eyes  in  the  long  sleep  from  which 
they  would  never  awaken  in  this  world.  And 
Kemoc,  looking  up,  saw  a  vision  of  four  lovely 
children,  with  luminous,  silvery,  wings  and  faces 
radiant  with  joy.  The  children  smiled  at  him  and 
then  slowly  disappeared  from  his  eager  gaze. 

Kemoc  was  very  happy  for  he  knew  the  swans 
had  gone  to  dwell  in  a  kingdom  where  no  treach- 
ery could  touch  them,  and  where  all  would  be 
love  and  happiness. 

He  buried  the  bodies  of  the  children  of  Lir  ac- 
cording to  their  wish ;  and  raised  a  grave  mound 
over  them,  and  above  it  a  stone  on  which  their 
names  were  engraved  in  Ogham. 

And  this  is  the  sorrowful  story  of  the  children 
of  Lir  as  told  by  Ebric  of  the  lake  of  Glora. 

Ogham  [O'am]:  The  most  ancient  manner  of  writing  or  making 
records  known  to  the  Irish.  There  are  many  stones  inscribed  in 
Ogham  still  extant. 


The  Ard  Righ  of  Eire 


CHAPTER  I. 

NE  day,  as  Eochaid  Feidlech,  Ard 
Righ  of  Eire,  was  going  over  the  fair 
green  of  Bri  Leith  he  saw  near  a 
well  a  woman  wearing  a  beautiful, 
purple  cloak  with  silver  fringes  and  a  golden 
brooch.  Her  dress  was  of  green  silk  with  a  long 
hood  embroidered  in  red  gold,  and  on  her  breast 
and  shoulders  were  cunningly  wrought  clasps  of 
gold  and  silver.  Her  hair  was  in  two  plaits,  and 
in  each  plait  were  four  strands,  and  at  the  end  of 
each  strand  was  a  bead.  Also  she  wore  a  comb 
of  gold  and  silver.  The  color  of  her  hair  was  like 
that  of  the  yellow  ailestars  in  summer,  or  like  red 
gold  after  it  is  rubbed. 

She  had  brought  with  her  a  silver  basin,  in 
which  to  wash  her  hair.  The  basin  had  four 
golden  birds  on  it  and  little,  bright-purple  stones 
set  in  its  rim.  After  preparing  to  wash  her  hair 
she  let  it  down  with  her  soft  hands,  white  as  the 

Ard  Righ  of  Eire  [Ard  Ree  of  Ar'ya]:  The  High  King  of  Ireland. 
The  Ard  Righ  of  Eire :  The  original  manuscript  is  one  of  the  old- 
est specimens  of  written  Gaelic  now  extant.  Eochaid  Feidlech 
[Och'ee  Fay'lach].  Bri  Leith  [Bree  Leh]:  Property  of  Leith. 
Ailestar  [A  lest  ar],  the  iris  or  fleur  de  lis. 


83 


84  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

snow  of  a  single  night.  Her  eyes  were  blue  as 
any  blue  flower,  and  her  lips  as  red  as  the  berries 
of  the  quicken  tree.  The  brightness  of  the  moon 
was  in  her  face;  the  arch  of  pride  in  her  eye- 
brows ;  a  dimple  of  delight  in  each  of  her  cheeks ; 
the  light  of  love  in  her  eyes  and  her  walk  was 
that  of  a  queen.  Of  all  the  women  in  the  world 
she  was  the  loveliest  and  best,  and  King  Eochaid 
and  his  people  thought  that  she  came  from  the 
hills  of  the  Sidhe,  and  they  said  of  her :  "All  are 
dear  and  all  are  beautiful  until  they  are  put  be- 
side Etain." 

So  Eochaid  sent  messengers  to  bring  her  to 
him,  and  when  she  had  come  he  said  "Who  are 
you  and  where  do  you  come  from  ?" 

"That  is  easy  to  tell,"  she  said.  "I  am  Etain, 
daughter  of  Etar,  king  of  the  Riders  of  the  Sidhe. 
"Ever  since  I  was  born,  twenty  years  ago,  I  have 
lived  in  this  place.  Kings  and  great  men  from 
among  the  Sidhe  have  asked  for  my  love,  but  I 
have  not  wasted  a  thought  on  them,  for  even 
when  I  was  a  child  I  loved  you,  because  of  the 
tales  I  heard  of  your  goodness  and  valor.  When 
I  saw  you  just  now,  I  knew  you  by  all  I  had  heard 
of  you  and  was  glad  to  have  found  you  at  last." 

"It  is  a  good  friend  you  have  been  looking  for," 

Etain  [Et'yan].         Etar  [A 'tar]. 


THE   ARD   RICH    OF   EIRE  85 

said  Eochaid,  "and  he  bids  you  welcome."  From 
now  on  no  other  woman  shall  hold  my  love."  And 
so  they  were  wedded  and  lived  together  until 
King  Eochaid  died. 

They  had  one  daughter  and  she  was  named 
Etain  after  her  mother.  She  married  Cormac, 
king  of  Ulster,  and  like  her  mother  she  had  one 
daughter.  But  Cormac  was  vexed  because  he 
wished  for  a  son  instead  of  a  daughter;  and  he 
bade  two  of  his  serving  men  take  the  child  out  of 
his  sight,  and  put  her  in  a  pit  to  die.  So  they 
brought  her  to  the  pit,  but  when  they  were  putting 
her  in  she  smiled  at  them  so  sweetly  that  they  had 
not  the  heart  to  harm  her.  They  then  brought 
her  to  a  calf-shed  belonging  to  the  herders  of  the 
cattle  of  Etercel,  great  grandson  of  lar,  king  of 
Teamhair.  The  herders  cared  for  her  with  love 
and  kindness  and  no  king's  daughter  was  more 
beautiful  or  virtuous  than  she,  the  maiden  Etain, 
to  whom  Cormac  had  denied  a  father's  love  and 
protection.  And  the  herders  made  for  her  a  little 
house  of  wicker  work.  The  little  house  had  no 
door;  only  a  large,  high  window. 

King  Etercel's  people  thought  that  the  herders 
stored  provisions  in  the  wicker  house.  But  one 
day  a  man  from  among  them  got  up  and  looked 

Etercel  [Ef  er  kel]. 


86  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

in  through  the  window  and  instead  of  a  store 
of  provisions,  he  saw  the  best  behaved  and  most 
beautiful  young  girl  of  the  whole  world. 

When  King  Etercel  heard  this  he  sent  the 
noblest  of  all  his  warriors  to  break  into  the  wicker 
house  and  bring  Etain  away,  without  asking  per- 
mission of  the  cowherds.  For  King  Etercel 
thought  she  must  be  the  woman  who  it  had  been 
foretold  would  be  his  wife. 

But  early  in  the  morning,  before  the  king's 
messengers  reached  the  house,  a  bird  flew  in 
through  the  window,  and  it  left  its  bird-skin  on 
the  floor  and  stood  before  Etain  changed  to  a 
man,  and  he  said  to  her: 

"The  king  is  sending  messengers  to  bring  you 
to  him  for  he  wishes  to  make  you  his  wife.  And 
you  will  have  a  son  whose  name  will  be  Conaire, 
son  of  Mess  Buachall,  that  is,  'son  of  the  cow- 
herd's foster-child.'  And  there  will  be  geasa  on 
him,  that  is  bonds,  never  to  kill  a  bird  for  I  will 
be  his  father."  With  that  he  disappeared  in  his 
bird-skin  and  flew  out  of  the  window,  and  the 
king's  messengers  came  and  breaking  down  the 
wicker  house  brought  Etain  away  to  the  king. 

WThen  her  son  Conaire  was  born,  Etain  asked 
that  he  might  be  brought  up  between  three  house- 

Conaire  [Con'er  ry].         Buachall  [Bs'kell]. 


THE   ARD   RICH    OF   EIRE  87 

holds;  the  household  of  the  herders,  the  house- 
hold of  the  Maines  and  her  own  household. 

So  Conaire  was  reared  as  his  mother  wished 
and  there  were  five  other  boys  reared  along  with 
him:  Ferger,  Fergel,  Ferogian,  Ferobain  and 
Lomna  Druth,  the  jester  of  the  house  of  Dond 
Dessa,  who  was  champion  of  the  army  from  Mu 
Muclesi.  And  they  all  were  given  the  same  food, 
and  their  clothing  and  armor  and  the  color  of 
their  horses  were  the  same. 

Maines  [Mawn'yahs].  Lomna   Druth   [Lum'na  Droo].          Life: 

River  at  the  mouth  of  which  Dublin  is  located.     Ath  Cliath  [Aw 
Clee'ah]:     Same  as  Athaclee,  page  57. 


88  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 


CHAPTER  II. 

And,  while  Conaire  was  yet  quite  young,  king 
Etercel  died ;  and  after  his  death  a  bull  feast  was 
made  ready  at  Teamhair,  for  the  custom  was  to 
find  out  by  means  of  a  bull  feast  who  was  the  best 
man  to  succeed  to  the  kingship. 

This  is  the  way  in  which  a  bull  feast  was  made. 
A  white  bull  was  killed  and  his  flesh  was  boiled 
in  a  great  caldron,  and  one  man  would  eat  of  the 
meat  and  drink  of  the  broth  until  he  was  fully  sat- 
isfied. Then  he  would  sleep;  and  a  charm  of 
truth  would  be  said  over  him  by  four  Druids,  and 
whoever  he  would  see  in  his  sleep  would  be  king. 
And  when  he  awoke  he  would  describe  to  the  peo- 
ple the  appearance  of  the  man  he  had  seen  in  his 
sleep,  and  if  he  told  anything  but  the  truth  his 
lips  would  perish.  This  time  the  dreamer  saw  in 
his  sleep  a  young  man  who  did  not  have  sufficient 
clothing  to  keep  him  from  being  scorched  by  the 
sun  and  chilled  by  the  wind.  The  young  man  had 
a  stone  in  his  sling  and  was  hurrying  along  the 
road  to  Teamhair  as  if  looking  for  something  to 
wear. 

Conaire  at  this  time  was  playing  games  near 


THE   ARD   RICH    OF   EIRE  89 

the  Life  river  with  his  foster  brothers,  and  the 
cowherds  who  had  reared  him  came  and  bade 
him  go  to  Teamhair  to  the  bull  feast. 

So  Conaire  left  the  others  to  play  their  games 
without  him  and  started  in  his  chariot  for  the  bull 
feast.  And  as  he  fared  on  his  way  he  came  to  Ath 
Cliath,  where  he  saw  some  white  speckled  birds ; 
the  largest  and  finest  he  had  ever  seen.  He  fol- 
lowed them  until  his  horses  were  tired  but  could 
not  come  up  with  them,  for  they  always  kept  just 
beyond  his  reach.  So  he  got  down  from  his  char- 
iot and  taking  his  sling  followed  them  to  the 
shore  of  the  sea.  When  the  birds  reached  the  sea 
they  swam  away  on  the  waves  and  Conaire  went 
after  them  and  tried  to  seize  them.  Then  they 
left  their  bird-skins  on  the  water,  and  rose  up  in 
the  likeness  of  men  before  Conaire,  and  turned 
to  face  him  with  spears  and  swords. 

But  one  of  the  birds  stepped  to  Conaire's  side 
in  token  of  protection,  and  said  to  him:  "I  am 
Nemglan,  king  of  your  father's  birds.  You  are 
under  geasa  never  to  cast  a  stone  at  birds  and 
there  is  great  reason  why  all  birds  should  be  dear 
to  you." 

"I  have  never  heard  of  the  geasa  before," 
said  Conaire  dropping  the  stone  from  his 

Nemglan  [Nev'glanj. 


90  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

sling.  Then  Nemglan  said:  "We  have  a  mes- 
sage for  you  and  it  is  this:  Go  to  Team- 
hair  tonight  to  the  bull  feast.  By  doing  so 
you  will  be  made  king;  for  the  kingship  is  to  be 
given  to  a  man  who  will  go  along  one  of  the  roads 
to  Teamhair,  toward  the  end  of  the  night,  and 
whose  clothing  is  not  sufficient  to  keep  his  body 
from  being  scorched  by  day  and  chilled  by  night." 

"I  will  go,"  said  Conaire,  "for  I  have  a  right 
to  be  king  when  my  father  and  grandfather  have 
been  king  before  me." 

"You  will  be  king,  indeed,"  said  Nemglan, 
"and  your  bird-reign  will  be  renowned,  but  there 
are  geasa,  that  is  bonds,  on  you  not  to  do  these 
things  which  I  shall  name: 

"Do  not  go  right-hand-wise  around  Teamhair 
nor  left-hand-wise  around  Bregia.  Do  not  hunt 
the  evil  beasts  of  Cerna.  Do  not  go  out  beyond 
Teamhair  every  ninth  night.  Do  not  settle  the 
quarrel  of  two  of  your  own  people.  Let  no  rob- 
bery be  done  in  your  reign.  Do  not  sleep  in  a 
house  from  which  you  can  see  the  firelight  shin- 
ing after  sunset.  Do  not  let  one  man  nor  one 
woman  come  into  the  house  where  you  are  after 
slunset.  Do  not  let  three  Reds  go  before  you  to 
the  house  of  Red." 

Bregia  [Braw] :     Plain  on  which  Teamhair  stands.         Cerna  [Kar'na]. 


THE   ARD  RICH   OF   EIRE  91 

As  soon  as  Nemglan  had  finished  speaking,  he 
and  his  companions  resumed  their  bird-shapes 
and  flew  rapidly  away. 

Then  Conaire,  remembering  what  had  been 
told  him,  left  his  raiment  lying  on  the  strand  and 
picking  up  another  stone  for  his  sling  set  out  for 
Teamhair.  And  on  each  of  the  four  roads  to 
Teamhair  three  kings  were  waiting;  and  they  had 
with  them  clothing  for  the  king  whose  coming 
had  been  foretold  at  the  bull  feast.  And  the  three 
kings  on  the  road  Conaire  was  traveling  when 
they  saw  him  coming  went  forth  to  meet  him,  and 
they  put  royal  clothes  on  him  and  brought  him  in 
a  chariot  to  Teamhair. 

But  the  people  of  Teamhair  when  they  saw  him 
said:  "Our  bull  feast  and  our  charm  of  truth 
were  of  little  worth  when  they  have  brought  us 
only  a  young,  beardless  lad." 

But  Conaire  said:  "My  youth  does  not  unfit 
me  to  be  your  king,  for  my  father  and  my  grand- 
father have  both  held  the  same  place.  "That  is 
true,"  said  they ;  and  then  they  gave  him  the  king- 
ship. And  Conaire  said  to  them:  "I  will  be  a 
just  king  to  you  and  I  will  learn  of  wise  men,  that 
I  also  may  be  wise." 

And  during  Conaire's  reign  there  was  peace 


92  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

and  plenty  throughout  Eire.  Seven  ships  at  a 
time  came  into  Inver  Colpa,  and  there  were  corn 
and  nuts  up  to  the  knees  in  every  harvest,  and 
trees  bending  from  the  weight  of  fruit  and  the 
Buais  and  the  Boinne  were  full  of  fish  every  sum- 
mer. And  among  the  people  there  was  such  good 
will  that  they  thought  each  others  voices  as  sweet 
as  the  strings  of  harps.  Even  the  wolves  them- 
selves were  held  by  hostages  not  to  kill  more  than 
one  calf  in  every  pen. 

During  all  Conaire's  reign  there  was  no 
thunder  nor  storm,  and  from  Baal  Tinne  until 
Samhain  there  was  not  as  much  wind  as  would 
stir  the  rushes  in  the  water.  And  the  cattle  were 
without  herders  because  of  the  greatness  of  peace. 
And  his  reign  crowned  Eire  with  three  crowns: 
the  crown  of  flowers ;  the  crown  of  acorns  and  the 
crown  of  wheat  ears. 

Inver  [Estuary].  Inver  Colpa:  Estuary  of  the  Boyne  river  at 
Drogheda  [Draw'dah].  Tinnee  [Tin'neh].  Baal  Tinne:  Baal 
Fire;  Month  of  May.  Samhain  [Soj>-'nah]  :  Month  of  November. 


THE   ARD   RICH    OF   EIRE  93 


CHAPTER  III. 

But  after  awhile  the  sons  of  Dond  Dessa  grew 
discontented,  because  they  were  hindered  from  the 
robbery  and  killing  which  used  to  be  in  the  old 
time.  And  to  vex  the  king,  and  to  see  what  he 
would  do,  they  stole  three  things :  a  pig,  a  bullock 
and  a  cow  from  the  same  countryman  every  year 
for  three  years.  And  every  year  the  countryman 
went  to  the  king  to  make  complaint  and  every 
year  the  king  said:  "It  is  to  the  sons  of  Dessa 
you  should  go,  for  they  took  the  beasts."  But 
when  the  countryman  went  to  the  sons  of  Dond 
Dessa  he  received  no  satisfaction,  but  insults  and 
threats  were  added  to  his  injuries.  And  he  was 
afraid  to  go  back  and  tell  the  king  for  fear  of  vex- 
ing him. 

So  the  sons  of  Dond  Dessa  continued  their 
depredations  and  three  times  fifty  other  young 
men,  sons  of  the  great  men  of  Eire  joined  them. 

And  one  time  when  they  were  doing  their 
wicked  work  in  Connacht  they  followed  a  swine- 
herd, who  ran  from  them  and  called  for  help,  and 
the  people  came  in  haste  when  they  heard  the 
cry;  and  they  caught  the  robbers  and  brought 


94  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

them  back  to  Teamhair.  King  Conaire  was 
then  called  upon  to  give  judgment  and  this  is 
what  he  said :  "Let  every  father  of  a  robber  put 
his  own  son  to  death,  but  let  my  foster-brothers 
be  spared." 

"Give  us  leave/'  said  the  people,  "and  we  will 
put  them  to  death  for  you." 

"I  will  not  consent  to  that,"  said  Conaire, 
"Their  lives  shall  be  spared ;  yet  if  they  must  con- 
tinue in  their  robbery  let  them  go  across  the  sea 
to  Alban." 

Thereupon  the  sons  of  Dond  Dessa  were  driven 
out  of  the  country,  and  some  of  the  Maines  went 
with  them,  and  the  sons  of  Ailell  and  Maeve  and 
three  great  fighting  men  of  Leinster,  who  were 
called  the  Three  Red  Hounds  of  Cualu ;  and  they 
also  brought  with  them  a  troop  of  wild,  restless 
men. 

And  when  they  were  out  in  their  ships  on  the 
rough  sea,  they  met  the  ship  of  Ingcel,  the  One- 
Eyed  grandson  of  Cormac  of  Britain.  They 
were  going  to  make  an  attack  on  him  but  Ingcel 
said  "Instead  of  fighting  let  us  come  to  an  agree- 
ment for  you  have  been  driven  out  of  Eire  and  I 
have  been  driven  out  of  Britain.  Let  us  unite," 
said  Ingcel,  "come  you  with  us  and  we  will  spoil 

Ailell  [Awl'yeel].         Maeve  [Mave]:     Same  as  Queen  Mab  of  Shake- 
speare.        Ingcel  [Ing'kel]. 


THE   ARD   RICH   OF   EIRE  95 

the  people  of  my  country."  So  to  this  they 
agreed ;  but  they  cast  lots  as  to  where  they  should 
go  first  and  it  happened  that,  according  to  lots, 
they  should  first  go  to  Britain  with .  Ingcel.  So 
they  wrought  great  ravages  in  Britain,  and  then 
set  out  for  Alban,  repeating  their  destruction  and 
robbery.  At  last  they  turned  back  again  to  Eire. 

Now  at  this  time  the  peace  of  £ire  had  been 
broken  by  the  two  Cairbres,  who  were  at  war  with 
one  another  in  Tuamumain  of  Munster,  and  no 
one  was  able  to  put  an  end  to  their  quarrel  until 
Conaire  himself  went  to  Tuamumain  for  that 
purpose.  But  in  doing  this  he  broke  two  of  the 
geasa  put  on  him  by  the  Man  of  the  Waves.  On 
his  way  back  to  Teamhair,  when  he  was  passing 
Usnach  in  Meath,  he  and  his  people  thought  they 
saw  fighting  from  east  to  west,  and  from  north 
to  south,  and  armies  of  savages  and  the  country 
of  the  Ua  Neills  like  a  cloud  of  fire  around  them. 

"What  means  this?"  said  Conaire.  "It  is 
easy  to  answer  that,"  said  the  people.  "The  king's 
law  has  been  transgressed  and  the  country  is  on 
fire." 

"What  way  is  the  best  way  for  us  to  go?"  said 
Conaire- 

"To  the  northwest"  said  his  people. 

Tuamumain  [Too 'ah  moon].         North    Munster,    modernized:   Tho- 
mond. 


96  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

So  they  went  right-hand-wise  around  Team- 
hair  and  left-hand-wise  around  Bregia;  and  by 
doing  this  Conaire  again  broke  his  bonds.  Also 
they  hunted  wild  beasts,  which  they  encountered 
on  their  way,  and  Conaire  did  not  know  until 
afterwards  that  they  were  the  evil  beasts  of 
Cerna. 

It  was  the  Sidhe  who  had  put  that  Druid  mist 
of  smoke  about  Conaire,  because  he  had  begun 
to  break  his  bonds.  Great  fear  came  over  him 
and,  hardly  knowing  what  to  do,  he  and  his  peo- 
ple traveled  south  by  the  sea  coast  on  the  road 
of  Cualu.  As  evening  came  on  Conaire  said: 
"Where  shall  we  go  to  spend  the  night?" 

Then  MacCecht,  one  of  Conaire's  fighting 
men,  who  kept  three  of  the  Fomor  as  hostages 
at  the  king's,  court  so  that  their  people  would  not 
spoil  corn  or  honey  in  Eire  during  his  reign, 
answered  the  king:  "This  much  I  can  truly  say, 
O  king:  It  is  oftener  the  men  of  Eire  have  quar- 
reled to  entertain  you,  than  you  have  strayed 
about  looking  for  a  lodging." 

"I  have  a  friend  not  far  from  this,"  said  Con- 
aire, "if  we  but  knew  the  way  to  his  house,  we 
could  go  there." 

"What  is  his  name?"  asked  MacCecht. 

The  houses  of  the  ancient  Gaels  were  made  of  wood.        Mac  Cecht 
[Mac  Kay'acht]. 


97 

"Da  Derga  of  Leinster ;  it  is  he  who  keeps  the 
great  inn,"  said  Conaire.  "He  came  once  to  ask 
a  gift  of  me,  and  I  did  not  refuse,  but  gave  him 
horses,  cattle  and  swine;  cloaks  of  fine  cloth, 
swords,  spears  and  red-gilded  brooches;  good 
brown  ale  and  white  hounds  in  silver  chains. 
And  I  would  do  the  same  by  him  again  should 
he  come  to  me.  Surely  he  would  not  be- 
grudge me  anything  should  I  go  to  his  house  to- 
night" 

"As  I  remember,"  said  MacCecht,  "the  house 
of  Da  Derga  has  seven  doorways  and  seven 
sleeping  rooms  between  every  two  doorways; 
and,  we  are  now  going  directly  toward  it." 

"Let  us  continue  on  this  road  until  we  come 
to  the  house  you  speak  of,"  said  Conaire. 

"If  you  wish  to  do  that,"  said  MacCecht,  "I 
will  go  on  before  you  and  light  a  fire  in  the 
house." 

So  Conaire  and  all  his  people  went  on  toward 
Ath  Cliath  and  presently  a  man  with  hair  cut 
short  and  with  but  one  hand,  one  foot,  and  one 
eye  and  an  altogether  dreadful  appearance  over- 
took them.  In  his  hand  he  held  a  forked  pole  of 
black  iron ;  on  his  back  he  carried  a  black-bristled, 

Da  Derga :  Its  location  was  a  few  miles  South  of  Dublin.  The  road 
thither  has  the  same  name  it  had  in  the  first  century.  Boher  Na 
Breena. 


98  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

singed  pig  which  squealed  vociferously;  and  after 
him  hurried  a  large-mouthed,  ugly  woman. 

"Welcome  to  you,  my  master  Conaire,"  he 
said. 

"Who  gives  this  welcome  ?"  said  Conaire. 

"Per  Coille,  the  Man  of  the  Wood,"  said  he, 
giving  Conaire  an  uncanny  glance  of  his  one 
great  eye.  "I  offer  you  the  shelter  of  my  house 
tonight;  and  my  black  pig  is  a  surety  that  you 
shall  not  go  fasting,  but  feast  and  sleep  as  be- 
comes the  best  king  in  the  world." 

"I  will  not  go  to  your  house  tonight,"  said 
Conaire,  "but  any  other  night  it  pleases  you  I 
will  accept  your  hospitality,  only  leave  me  now 
and  go  your  own  way." 

"That  we  will  not  do,"  replied  Fer  Coille,  "but 
we  will  spend  the  night  with  you  in  whatever 
place  you  may  be,  O  fair  little  master,  Conaire." 

So  he  went  on  toward  the  inn;  his  wife  be- 
hind him,  and  his  black  pig  squealing  on  his 
back. 

Soon  afterward  Conaire  saw  three  horsemen 
going  toward  the  inn.  They  had  red  cloaks ;  red 
shields  and  red  spears  in  their  hands  and  they 
were  mounted  on  red  horses. 

"What  men  are  these  riding  before  me?"  said 


THE   ARD   RICH   OF   EIRE  99 

Conaire,  "I  am  under  geasa  not  to  let  them  go 
before  me:  three  Reds  to  the  house  of  Red,  that 
is  the  house  of  Derga.  Who  will  overtake  them 
and  bid  them  come  back  and  follow  me?" 

"I  will  overtake  them,"  said  Lefriflaith,  Con- 
aire's  son,  and  speaking  to  his  horse  he  gal- 
loped away. 

But  however  fast  he  rode  he  could  not  overtake 
the  three  red  horses  and  their  red-clad  riders, 
so  he  called  to  them  to  turn  back  and  not  con- 
tinue riding  before  the  king.  To  his  first  and 
second  call  they  did  not  reply,  but  the  third  time 
one  of  the  three  men  looked  back  and  said :  "Dire 
news  awaits  us,  my  son,  wetting  of  swords;  de- 
stroying of  life;  shields  with  broken  bosses  after 
the  fall  of  night!  We  ride  the  horses  of  the 
Sidhe,  and  although  we  are  alive  we  are  dead." 
With  that  the  three  red  riders  vanished,  and 
Lefriflaith  went  back  to  his  father. 

"You  did  not  keep  back  the  men,"  said  Con- 
aire. 

"I  have  failed  indeed,"  said  Lefriflaith,  "but  I 
could  do  no  more  than  I  have  done."  And  then 
he  told  the  king  and  his  people  what  the  red 
horseman  had  said.  This  gave  them  all  great  un- 
easiness, and  Conaire  said:  "All  my  bonds  are 

Lefriflaith  [Lef 'ri  flah].         Flaith  :  Prince. 


100  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

broken  tonight,  and  those  three  Reds  before  me 
are  sent  by  the  Sidhe." 

Now  while  Conaire  and  his  people  were  on 
the  road  of  Cualu,  going  toward  the  inn,  Ingcel 
and  the  outlaws  of  Eire  were  come  in  their  ships 
to  the  coast  of  Bregia  opposite  Etair.  And  the 
sons  of  Bond  Dessa  said:  "Furl  the  sails  now, 
and  send  a  light-footed  messenger  on  shore  to 
find  out  what  prospect  there  is  of  keeping  our 
bargain  with  Ingcel;  we  must  give  him  spoil  for 
spoil." 

"Let  some  man  go"  said  Ingecel  "who  has  the 
gifts  of  keen  hearing,  far-sight  and  judgment." 

"I  'have  the  gift  of  keen  hearing,"  said  Maine 
Milscothach.  "And  I  have  the  gift  of  far-sight 
and  judgment"  said  Maine  Andoc. 

"Then  it  is  well  for  you  both  to  go,"  said  the 
others. 

So  they  landed  and  fared  on  until  they  came  to 
Beinn  Etair,  and  there  they  stopped  to  see  and 
hear. 

"Be  quiet;  listen,"  said  Maine  Milscothach. 

"What  do  you  hear?"    said  Maine  Andoc. 

"I  hear  the  coming  of  a  king,"  was  the  reply 
"Look  now  and  tell  me  what  you  see." 

"I   see,"   said    Maine   Milscothach,   "a   great 

Milscothach    [Mils   ko'hah]:     Honey-blossoms  Andoc  [An '6k]: 

Youthful          Beinn  Etair  [Ben  Edar].         Proper  names  and  names 
of  places  are  often  spelled  differently  in  different  texts. 


THE   ARD   RICH   OF   EIRE  101 

company  of  men  traveling  over  hills  and  rivers. 
They  have  clothes  of  every  color,  grey  spears 
over  their  chariots,  and  swords  with  ivory  hilts 
and  silver  shields.  And  I  swear  by  the  gods  of 
the  air  the  horses  they  have  with  them  are  the 
horses  of  some  great  chief." 

"It  is  my  opinion,"  said  Maine  Andoc,  "that 
the  king  you  see  is  Conaire,  son  of  Eterscel, 
traveling  with  a  great  company  of  men  of  Eire." 

With  that  they  went  back  and  told  their  com- 
rades what  they  had  heard  and  seen.  So  the  sons 
of  Dond  Dessa  and  Ingcel  had  their  boats 
brought  to  shore  and  landed  on  the  strand  of  Fur- 
buithe. 

Just  at  this  moment  Mac  Cecht  was  strik- 
ing a  spark  to  kindle  a  fire  in  the  inn  before  the 
High  King. 

And  Conaire  and  his  people  when  they  ar- 
rived at  the  inn  entered  and  seated  themselves; 
and  so  did  the  three  red  men,  and  the  Man  of  the 
Wood,  the  swineherd  of  the  Sidhe,  with  his 
squealing  pig. 

And  when  they  were  seated  Da  Derga  came  to 
greet  them.  With  him  were  three  times  fifty  long 
haired  fighting  men.  Each  one  of  them  wore  a 

Furbuithe  [Fur  bwee'hah]. 


102  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

short  cloak  and  carried  a  great  blackthorn  stick 
with  bands  of  iron. 

"Welcome,  my  master  Conaire,"  said  Da 
Derga,  "and  if  you  were  to  bring  all  the  men  of 
Eire  with  you  there  would  be  a  welcome  for  them 
all." 

When  twilight  shades  had  fallen,  a  lone  woman 
came  to  the  inn.  She  was  wrapped  in  a  grey 
woolen  cloak  over  which  fell  the  tangled  masses 
of  her  long  hair.  Her  mouth  was  drawn  to  one 
side  of  her  head  and  she  leaned  against  the  door- 
post and  threw  an  evil  eye  on  the  king  and  the 
young  men  about  him. 

"Well,  woman,"  said  Conaire,  "if  you  have 
the  Druid  sight,  what  is  it  you  see  for  us?" 

"This  is  what  I  see  for  you,"  said  she,  "nothing 
of  your  skin;  or,  of  your  flesh,  will  escape  from 
the  place  you  are  now  in,  except  what  the  birds 
will  bring  away  in  their  claws.  And  now  let  me 
go  into  the  house,"  she  continued,  attempting  to 
enter. 

"I  am  under  geasa,"  said  Conaire,  "not  to  let 
one  lone  woman  enter  the  house  after  the  setting 
of  the  sun."  And  turning  to  the  servants  he 
said:  "Bring  this  woman  a  good  share  of  food 


THE  ARD  RICH  OF  EIRE  103 

from  my  own  table;  but  see  that  she  spends  the 
night  under  some  other  roof  than  this." 

"If  the  king  is  no  longer  hospitable,  and  it  has 
become  his  custom  not  to  let  one  lone  woman 
come  into  his  house  to  be  fed  and  lodged,  I  will 
go  elsewhere  and  seek  hospitality  'from  some  bet- 
ter man." 

"Let  her  in  regardless  of  my  bonds,"  said 
Conaire  when  he  heard  that. 

So  they  let  her  in,  but  none  of  them  felt  easy  in 
their  minds  after  what  she  had  said. 

While  all  this  was  happening,  the  outlaws  were 
on  their  way  to  the  inn.  And  when  they  came  to 
Leccaibcend  Slebe  they  saw  the  great  light  which 
was  shining  from  the  inn  through  the  wheels  of 
the  chariots  that  were  outside  the  doors. 

"What  is  that  great  light  yonder  in  the  dis- 
tance?" said  Ingcel  to  Ferogain. 

"I  think  it  must  be  the  fire  of  Conaire,  the 
High  King,"  said  Ferogain,  "and  I  fear  if  he  is 
there  tonight  that  harm  will  come  to  him,  or  his 
life  be  shortened ;  and  he  a  branch  in  its  blossom !" 

"And  I  count  it  good  luck  if  he  is  there"  said 
Ingcel.  "Spoil  for  spoil!  Should  Conaire  fall 
into  our  hands  it  would  be  no  worse  for  you,  than 

Leccaibcend  Slebe  [Lack'  av  kin  Schlav]. 


104  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

it  was  for  us  when  we  lost  our  people  and  our 
our  king!" 

"That  is  true!  That  is  true!"  said  all  the 
others. 

Then  every  man  of  them  brought  a  stone  from 
the  strand  to  make  a  cairn,  as  was  their  custom 
before  making  an  attack  on  any  place,  for 
by  this  they  could  determine  how  many  men  had 
been  lost.  For  every  man  that  would  come  from 
the  fight  would  take  his  stone  from  the  cairn  and 
the  stones  of  all  that  had  been  killed  would  be  left 
there. 

After  the  cairn  was  made  they  held  a  council, 
and  it  was  agreed  that  Ingcel  should  go  as  a 
spy  to  the  inn.  So  he  went  and  spent  some  time 
looking  in  through  the  seven  doors  of  the  house. 
But  at  last  one  of  the  men  inside  caught  sight 
of  him,  and  Ingcel,  seeing  that  he  was  found 
out,  made  his  way  back  to  where  his  comrades 
were  sitting,  with  their  leaders  in  the  middle, 
waiting  to  hear  his  tidings  from  the  inn. 

"Did  you  see  the  house,  Ingcel?"  said  Fero- 
gain?" 

"I  have  looked  through  the  seven  doors  of  it," 
said  Ingcel  "and  whether  there  is  a  king  in  it  or 

Cairn  [Karn]:     A  hill. 


THE    ARD   RICH   OF   EIRE  105 

not  it  is  a  royal  house,  and  I  will  take  it  for  my 
share  when  the  spoils  are  divided." 

"You  may  do  that,"  said  Conaire's  foster 
brothers,  "but  we  will  not  go  against  it  before  we 
know  who  is  in  it." 

"The  first  I  saw"  said  Ingcel,  "was  a  large 
man  of  good  race  with  bright  eyes  and  hair  like 
flax;  his  face  was  wide  above  and  narrow  below 
and  he  had  no  beard.  His  mien  was  modest  and 
frank.  He  had  a  five  barbed  spear  and  a  shield 
with  five  gold  circles  on  it.  There  were  nine  men 
round-about  him,  all  fine  looking  and  so  much 
alike  that  you  would  think  that  they  had  the  same 
father  and  mother.  Who  were  those  men,  Fero- 
gain?" 

"It  is  easy  to  answer  that,"  said  Ferogain. 
"They  were  Cormac  Conloingeas  and  his  nine 
comrades.  These  men  have  never  put  anyone  to 
death  because  of  poverty,  nor  spared  him  because 
of  riches.  It  is  a  good  leader  they  have,  for  Cor- 
mac is  the  best  fighter  behind  a  shield  in  all  Eire. 
I  swear  by  the  gods  of  the  air,  it  is  no  small 
slaughter  they  will  make  before  the  inn  tonight." 

"If  I  had  my  way,"  said  Lomna  Druth,  the 
jester,  "an  attack  on  the  inn  should  never  be  made 

Conloingeas  [Koon  ling'ahs].       Conall  Cearnach  [Con'nal  Kar'nach]. 


106  GAELIC  FOLK   TALES 

if  it  were  only  for  the  sake  of  that  one  man,  the 
comely  and  gracious  Cormac  Conloingeas." 

"Your  wishes  will  have  no  weight  in  this  mat- 
ter. It  is  not  of  Cormac,  but  of  yourself  you  are 
thinking,  I  know  you  well,  you  are  but  a  poor 
fighter  and  the  mists  of  weakness  are  darkening 
round  you.  No  one,  either  old  man  or  story  teller, 
will  be  able  to  say  that  I  drew  back  from  this 
fight  before  I  had  gone  through  it." 

"That  is  all  well  enough  for  you  to  say,  Ing- 
eel,"  said  Lomna.  "You  will  live  to  take  part  in 
many  another  fight ;  and  you  will  bring  away  the 
head  of  a  strange  king  with  you  from  this  one; 
but,  as  for  me,  my  head  will  be  the  first  to  be 
tossed  to  and  fro  tonight." 

"What  did  you  see  after  that?"  said  Ferogain 
to  Ingcel  interrupting  the  conversation. 

"I  saw  a  room  in  which  were  three  tender 
youths,  wearing  cloaks  of  silk  with  golden  fasten- 
ings. Their  golden  hair  was  as  curly  as  a  ram's 
head.  A  golden  shield  and  the  candle  of  a  king's 
house  was  over  each  one  of  them,  and  they  were 
favorites  of  the  entire  household.  Can  you  tell 
me  who  they  were  Ferogain  ?" 

But  Ferogain  was  weeping  so  that  the  tears 
ran  down  the  front  of  his  cloak,  and  it  was  a  long 


THE  ARD  RICH  OF   EIRE  107 

time  before  he  could  control  himself  sufficiently 
to  speak.  "O  little  ones!"  he  said  then,  "I 
have  good  reason  for  weeping.  Those  three  fair 
youths  are  the  king's  sons  Oball,  Obline  and 
Corpre  Findmor." 

"Ah,  grief  is  ours  if  that  story  be  true,"  said 
the  other  sons  of  Dond  Dessa,  "for  none  are 
more  worthy  of  love  than  the  king's  sons.  They 
are  mannerly,  brave  and  kind.  All  who  have 
been  with  them  regret  parting  from  them. 
Shame  on  him  who  would  destroy  them!" 

"I  saw  after  that,"  continued  Ingcel,  "a  man 
with  a  golden  bush  of  hair  the  size  of  a  reaping 
basket.  A  long,  heavy,  three-edged  sword  was  in 
his  hand,  and  he  carried  a  red  shield  speckled 
with  rivets  of  white  bronze  between  plates  of 
gold." 

"That  man  is  known  to  all  men  of  Eire,"  said 
Ferogain,  "He  is  Conall  Cearnach,  son  of 
Amergin ;  of  all  the  men  in  the  world  he  is  dear- 
est to  Conaire.  The  shield  he  carries  is  the 
Lam-tapaid.  When  the  attack  on  the  inn  is  made 
Conall  Cearnach  with  his  Lam-tapaid  will  be  at 
every  one  of  its  seven  doorways.  What  did  you 
see  after  that,  Ingcel  ?" 

"I  saw"  he  said,  "a  big  brown  man  with  short 

Amergin  [Ow'er  gin].        Lam-tapid  [Lav-tap 'pee J:     The  Quick-Hand. 


108  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

brown  hair,  who  wore  a  red  speckled  cloak  and 
his  shield  was  black  with  clasps  of  gold.  With 
him  were  two  chief  men,  in  their  first  greyness, 
and  black  swords  hung  at  their  sides.  One  of 
them  had  in  his  hand  a  great  spear  with  fifty 
rivets  through  it.  He  shook  the  sword  over  his 
head  and  struck  the  haft  against  the  palm  of  his 
hand  three  times  and  then  plunged  it  into  a  great 
pot  that  stood  before  them,  and  when  he  was  put- 
ting it  in,  there  were  flames  on  the  shaft.  \Yho 
were  those  men,  Ferogain?" 

"That  brown  man  is  Muinremar,  son  of  Geir- 
gind,  one  of  the  champions  of  the  Red  Branch. 
One  of  his  companions  is  Sencha,  the  beautiful 
son  of  Ailell.  The  man  with  the  spear  is  Du- 
ach,  the  Beetle  of  Ulster,  and  the  spear  in  his 
hand  is  Celthair's  Luin.  It  was  in  the  battle  of 
Magh  Tuireadh,  and  was  brought  from  the  East 
by  the  three  children  of  Tuireann.  \Yhen  the 
hour  of  battle  is  near,  it  flames  up  of  itself,  and 
it  must  be  kept  in  a  caldron  of  water  or  it  will 
pierce  whoever  grasps  it." 

"And  after  that",  said  Ingcel,  "  I  saw  a  room 
in  which  were  nine  fair  haired  men  with  speckled 
cloaks.  Above  them  were  nine  bagpipes,  and  the 
ornaments  they  wore  emitted  a  brilliant  light." 

Muinremnr  [Win  row'  [cow]  er].  Geirgind  [Gar 'gin].          Sencha 

[Shan'cha].         Celthair's  Lain  [Keif  yher's  Lin]. 


THE  ARD   RICH  OF  EIRE  109 

"Those  are  the  nine  pipers  from  the  hill  of  the 
Sidhe  at  Bregia,"  said  Ferogain,  "They  came  to 
Conaire  because  of  his  great  fame.  They  are 
the  best  pipers  in  the  whole  world.  They  are 
good  fighters;  but  to  fight  with  them  is  to  fight 
with  a  shadow ;  for  they  kill,  but  cannot  be  killed, 
because  they  are  from  Sidhe." 

"And  next  I  saw  three  very  large  men,  terrible 
to  look  at.  Their  clothing  was  made  of  rough 
hair,  and  each  one  of  them  held  a  club  of  iron  in 
his  hand.  They  stood  alone  sad  and  silent ;  every 
one  in  the  house  avoiding  them.  Who  were 
those  men  Ferogain?" 

Ferogain  was  silent  for  a  while  and  then  he 
answered :  "I  do  not  know  who  these  men  can  be 
unless  they  are  the  three  giants  Cuchulain  spared 
the  time  he  took  them  from  the  men  of  Falga. 
He  would  not  let  them  be  killed  because  of  their 
strange  appearance.  Conaire  bought  them  from 
Cuchulain  after  that  and  they  are  with  him  yet." 

"I  saw  nine  men  in  the  north  part  of  the  house," 
said  Ingcel,  "having  manes  of  very  yellow  hair, 
and  short  linen  dresses  and  purple  cloaks  without 
brooches,  broad  spears,  and  red  curved  shields." 

"I  know  those  men:"  said  Ferogain,  "they  are 
three  royal  princes  of  Britain;  Oswald,  Osbrit 

Cuchulain  [Kooh'  nl  Ian]:  The  most  renowned  of  the  Red  Branch 
Knights,  A  Pagan  order  which  flourished  in  the  first  century  of  the 
Christian  era.  Cuchulain  was  called  the  mightiest  hero  of  the 

Scots.         Scots :  A  name  by  which  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Ire- 
land were  known  in  history  and  song. 


110  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

of  the  Long  Hand,  and  Lindas,  and  their  foster 
brothers,  all  of  whom  are  with  the  king." 

"And  three  Red  Men  I  saw  after  that" ;  Ingcel 
continued,  "red  shields  above  them,  red  spears  in 
their  hands  and  their  three  red  horses  were 
bridled  in  front  of  the  inn." 

"These  are  three  false  and  deceitful  champions 
from  the  Sidhe,"  said  Ferogain.  "They  were  sen- 
tenced by  the  king  of  the  Sidhe  to  be  thrice  de- 
stroyed by  the  king  of  Teamhair,  and  Conaire 
is  the  last  king  through  whom  they  will  be 
destroyed.  It  is  to  work  out  their  own  destruc- 
tion they  are  come.  What  more  did  you  see? 
Tell  us  more,  O  Ingcel  of  Britain,  for  with  thy 
one  eye  thou  hast  seen  more  than  most  other 
men  could  see  with  two." 

"I  saw  a  white  haired  man,  partly  bald  and  in 
his  ears  were  rings  of  gold.  In  his  hands  were 
nine  swords,  nine  shields,  and  nine  golden  apples. 
He  kept  throwing  each  one  of  them  upward  and 
not  one  would  fall  on  the  ground,  but  all  would 
rise  and  fall  past  each  other  like  bees  on  a  sunny 
day.  But  when  I  looked  at  him  he  let  everything 
drop  to  the  ground,  and  the  people  about  him 
cried  out  in  amazement;  and  the  king,  who  was 


THE   ARD  RICH  OF   EIRE  111 

sitting  near  by,  said  to  him:  'We  have  been  to- 
gether since  I  was  a  little  boy,  and  your  tricks 
never  failed  until  tonight.' ' 

"'My  grief/  he  said,  'Fair  master  Conaire, 
good  cause  there  is  for  failure;  an  unfriendly 
eye  looked  at  me,  and  there  is  some  bad  thing  in 
front  of  the  inn !'  " 

"When  the  king  heard  this  he  said:  This  re- 
minds me  of  a  dream  I  had  a  while  ago:  In  my 
sleep  I  heard  the  howling  of  my  dog  Ossar;  the 
groans  of  wounded  men ;  and  felt  the  bitterness  of 
a  wind  of  terror  on  which  was  wafted  the  caoin- 
ing  which  overcomes  laughter/ ' 

"The  man  with  the  earrings  was  Taulchinne, 
Conaire's  juggler,"  said  Ferogain.  "And  tell  me 
now,  what  was  the  appearance  of  the  king?" 

"Stately  and  handsome  is  Conaire,  the  king/' 
said  Ingcel  "and  though  young,  wisdom  and 
power  speak  in  his  glances.  His  hair  was  purest 
gold;  the  cloak  about  him  the  mist  of  a  May 
morning,  changing  from  color  to  color,  fading 
and  brightening  with  beauty  untold.  The  brooch 
he  wore  was  a  wheel  of  gold  reaching  from  his 
chin  to  his  waist,  and  within  his  reach  lay  his 
golden  hiked  sword." 

"That  was  Conaire,  the  High  King  indeed," 

Taulchinne  [Tawl  kin'na]. 


112  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

said  Ferogain.  "Of  all  the  kings  of  the  world  he 
is  the  greatest  and  best  and  comeliest.  In  wisdom 
bravery  and  eloquence  he  excels  all  men.  A  sim- 
ple man  peaceable  and  affectionate;  but,  when  his 
anger  is  aroused,  and  he  would  right  a  wrong, 
not  all  the  champions  of  Eire  and  Alban  will  win 
their  battle  while  he  is  against  them.  And  I 
swear  by  the  gods  of  the  air,  unless  overcome  by 
thirst  or  sleep,  that  man  alone  would  hold  the  inn 
until  help  could  gather  to  him  from  the  wave  of 
Cliodna  in  the  south,  to  the  wave  of  Easruadh  in 
the  west."  "It  is  time  for  us  to  arise,"  said 
Ingcel  then,  "and  proceed  to  the  inn." 

So  with  that  the  outlaws  rose  and  went  on  to 
the  inn,  and  the  clamor  of  their  voices  was  heard 
round-about  it. 

Conaire  was  the  first  to  hear  them.  "Listen," 
he  said,  "what  is  that  noise  without?" 

"The  shouts  and  challenges  of  fighting  men." 
said  Conall  Cearnach. 

"There  are  fighting  men  to  meet  them  here!" 
exclaimed  the  king. 

"They  will  be  wanted  tonight!"  added  Conall, 
raising  his  voice  above  contentious  cries  and 
clash  of  weapons. 

Cliodna  [Clee'nah].  Easruadh  [Ahs  roo'ah]:  The  three  "tonns" 
or  waves  of  Eire  were  the  wave  of  Truagh  beyond  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Bann,  the  wave  of  Ruraigh  in  Dundrum  Bay  and  the  wave 
of  Cliodna  in  Glandore  harbor  in  the  South  of  Cork. 


THE  ARD   RICH  OF   EIRE  113 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Then  Lomna  Druth,  the  jester,  ahead  of  all 
the  others,  broke  into  the  house,  and  the  door- 
keepers struck  off  his  head,  and  it  was  tossed 
three  times  in  and  out  of  the  inn,  just  as  he  had 
foretold. 

And  one  man  attacked  another  until  all  were 
in  the  fray,  and  Conaire,  the  king,  went  out  with 
his  people  and  many  of  the  outlaws  fell  by  his 
hand.  Three  times  the  inn  was  set  on  fire  and 
three  times  the  flames  were  extinguished,  and. 
after  that  Conaire  made  his  way  back  to  where 
his  weapons  lay,  for  he  had  been  without  them 
through  the  first  of  the  fight;  then,  fully  armed, 
he  went  out  again  and  drove  the  outlaws  back 
with  great  slaughter. 

"I  told  you"  said  Ferogain,  "that  all  the  men 
of  Eire  could  not  take  the  house  from  Conaire, 
the  king!" 

But  the  druids,  who  were  along  with  the  out- 
laws, said:  "His  hour  of  triumph  will  soon  end, 
and  the  day  of  victory  be  ours !" 

And  by  means  of  their  druidical  enchantments 
Conaire  became  very  thirsty,  and  went  into  the 
inn  for  drink. 


114  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

"A  drink  for  me,  MacCecht!"  he  cried. 

"It  is  not  such  a  command  as  that,  MacCecht 
is  used  to  taking  from  Conaire,  the  king,"  an- 
swered MacCecht.  "My  duty  is  to  keep  you  from 
the  men  who  seek  to  slay  you ;  but  ask  a  drink  of 
your  steward  or  your  cup-bearers." 

Then  Conaire  called  to  his  cup-bearers  for 
water.  'There  is  none"  they  answered,  "for 
every  drop  in  the  house  was  thrown  on  the  fire 
to  put  it  out" 

"Get  me  a  drink,"  said  Conaire,  speaking 
again  to  MacCecht.  "I  may  as  well  die  by  an 
outlaw's  hand  as  for  the  want  of  water." 

Then  MacCecht  asked  the  champions  of  Eire 
who  stood  near  the  king  which  they  would  rather 
do:  go  out  and  find  him  a  drink  or  stay  in  the 
house  and  defend  him.  Conall  Cearnach  replied : 
"Leave  the  defense  of  the  king  to  us,  and  go 
yourself  for  the  water,  for  it  was  of  you  the  king 
asked  it." 

So  MacCecht  went  to  look  for  a  drink  and 
he  took  Conaire's  great  golden  cup  with  him 
and  he  armed  himself  with  the  iron  cauldron 
spit.  And  as  he  sped  through  the  outlaws  he  de- 
fended himself  with  the  spit;  and  many  an  out- 
law died  from  a  blow  of  it.  And  finally  holding 


THE   ARD    RICH    OF    EIRE  115 

his  shield  before  him,  he  made  a  round  with  his 
sword  above  his  head  and  cutting  down  all  before 
him  made  his  way  past  chiefs  and  champions. 

And  all  that  happened  after  that  would  make 
too  long  a  story.  The  people  of  the  inn  came  out 
to  meet  the  attack  of  the  outlaws;  and,  though 
some  died  in  the  fight,  many  escaped.  At  last 
there  was  no  one  left  in  the  inn  with  Conaire 
but  Conall,  Sencha  and  Duach. 

Now  Conaire  from  rage  and  fighting  had 
brought  a  fever  of  thirst  upon  himself ;  which  so 
overcame  him  that  after  hours  of  suffering  he 
died. 

When  the  other  three  men  saw  that  the  high 
king  was  dead  they  went  out,  and,  cutting  their 
way  through  their  enemies,  wounded  and  dis- 
heartened escaped  with  their  lives. 

And  Conall  Cearnach,  when  he  had  sufficiently 
recovered  his  strength,  went  on  to  his  father's 
house.  But  half  his  shield  was  left  in  his  hand, 
and  his  two  spears  were  bent  and  broken. 

He  found  Amergin,  his  father,  out  before  his 
dun  in  Tailltin.  "Those  are  fierce  wolves  that 
have  hunted  you,  my  son,"  said  Amergin. 

"I  am  not  wounded  by  wolves  but  by  fierce 
fighting  men,"  said  Conall. 

Tailltin  [Tel '  tin] :  Now  called  Telltown.  Fairs  were  held  here  from 
earliest  times  until  the  twelfth  century.  Tailltin  is  the  Olympia  of 
the  Gael. 


116  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

"What  news  have  you  brought  from  Da 
Derga's  inn?"  said  Amergin.  "Is  Conaire, 
your  king,  still  living?" 

"The  king  no  longer  lives."    answered  Conall. 

"I  swear  by  the  gods  the  great  tribes  of  Ulster 
swear  by,  he  is  but  a  coward,  who  came  out  alive, 
leaving  his  king  dead  among  his  enemies." 

"My  own  wounds  are  not  white,  my  hero 
father."  said  Conall,  showing  his  right  arm  cov- 
ered with  frightful  gashes. 

"That  arm  has  indeed  been  in  the  fight,"  said 
Conall. 

"There  are  many  now  lying  in  front  of  the  inn 
to  whom  it  dealt  dark  death  last  night,"  said 
Conall. 

Now,  as  to  MacCecht:  after  he  made  his  way 
through  the  outlaws,  he  hurried  to  the  well  of 
Ceasair,  which  was  near  by  in  Crith  Cualann;but, 
there  was  not  so  much  as  the  full  of  the  cup  of 
water  in  it.  On  through  the  night  he  went  from 
lake  to  lake,  and  from  river  to  river,  but  he  could 
not  find  the  full  of  the  cup  of  water  in  any  of 
them.  At  last  he  came  to  Uaran  Garad  on  Magh 
Ai,  and  it  could  not  hide  itself  from  him  and  so 
he  filled  his  cup  and  retracing  his  steps,  reached 
the  inn  before  morning.  And  when  he  arrived 

Ceasair  [Kay'sar].          Crith  [Creh].          Uaran  Garad   [Uo'ran  Gaw' 
rah]          Magh  Ai  is  in  Roscommon. 


THE   ARD   RICH   OF   EIRE  117 

there  he  saw  two  men  in  the  act  of  striking  off 
Conaire's  head. 

With  a  sure  blow  MacCecht  struck  one  of 
them,  and  severed  his  head  from  his  body.  Mean- 
while the  other  man  made  haste  to  get  away  with 
King  Conaire's  head;  but,  MacCecht  picking  up 
a  stone  threw  it  and  wounded  him  unto  death. 

Then  he  stooped  and  poured  the  water  from  the 
golden  cup  into  Conaire's  mouth.  And,  after  the 
water  was  poured  in,  MacCecht  heard  the  voice 
of  Conaire  say:  "A  good  man  and  a  great 
champion,  brave  of  heart  and  hand  is  MacCecht. 
It  is  he  who  found  a  drink  of  water  for  a  thirsty 
king.  Gallantly  he  fought;  no  fear  had  he  of 
furious  foes !  Would  that  I  were  alive  once  more 
to  honor  MacCecht  of  the  great  name." 

After  that  MacCecht  brought  the  body  of  the 
high  king  to  Teamhair  and  buried  him  there  as 
befitted  a  king.  Then  he  went  away  to  his  own 
province  of  Connacht,  and  the  place  he  chose  to 
live  in  was  called  Magh  Bron-gear,  because  of 
his  bitter  grief. 

And  for  many  years  after  that  no  Ard  Righ 
was  chosen  to  reign  over  Eire. 

Bron-gear:  Sharp  sorrow. 


Deirdre  or  the  Fate  of  the 
Sons  of  Usnach 


CHAPTER  I. 

EDLLMID,  the  son  of  Doll,  was 
harper  to  king  Conchubar.  One 
day  when  Cathbad,  the  druid,  was 
at  Fedlimid's  house  he  foretold 
that  a  daughter  would  be  born  to 
him.  This  was  unexpected  news 
to  Fedlimid.  "I  do  not  believe  such  a  thing  can 
come  to  pass,  Cathbad,"  said  he. 

"Nevertheless,"  said  Cathbad,  "I  see  by  Druid 
signs  that  on  account  of  a  daughter  of  yours,  who 
is  not  yet  born,  much  blood  will  be  shed  in  Eire, 
and  great  heroes  and  candles  of  the  Gael  will  lose 
their  lives  because  of  her." 

"If  that  is  your  foretelling,  you  would  better 
keep  it  to  yourself ;  and,  moreover,  I  do  not  believe 
a  word  of  it."  said  Fedlimid,  for  the  druid's 
prophecy  angered  him. 

"But  you  will  live  to  know  my  foretelling  is 

Deirdre    [Dar'drah].         Usna    [Oos'nah].  Felimid    [Fa'llmeh]. 

Doll  [Dholl].         Conchubar  [C6n' a  choor].         Cathbad  [Caw 'fa J. 


118 


DEIRDRE  119 

true,  Fedlimid,"  replied  Cathbad,  "for  I  have 
seen  it  all  clearly  in  my  mind."  And  with  that 
he  went  away. 

Though  Fedlimid  pretended  not  to  believe  what 
the  druid  had  said,  still  he  pondered  over  it  night 
and  day  and  feared  in  his  heart  it  might  come 
true.  And  he  determined  that  if  the  child  should 
be  born,  as  foretold,  he  would  hide  her  away 
where  no  eye  could  see  her,  and  no  ear  could 
hear  of  her,  and  thus  prevent  the  woe  and  war- 
fare which  Cathbad  had  said  should  be  in  Eire 
for  her  sake. 

And  it  happened  in  due  course  of  time  that  the 
prophecy  came  true,  and  soon  after  the  child  was 
born  Cathbad  went  to  Fedlimid's  house  and  Fed- 
limid was  ashamed  when  he  saw  him  and  remem- 
bered how  he  would  not  believe  his  words. 

But  the  druid  looked  at  the  child  and  said :  "Let 
Deirdre  be  her  name ;  disaster  will  come  through 
her." 

Then  he  took  her  in  his  arms  and  said  "O 
Deirdre,  fair  daughter  of  Fedlimid,  there  will  be 
trouble  in  Ulster  for  your  sake!  O  flame  of 
beauty,  you  shall  kindle  deeds  of  wrath  in  Emain ; 
heroes  will  fight  for  you,  and  the  sons  of  kings 
meet  banis'hment  and  death!  Woe  and  warfare 

Emain  [Aw 'win] :  Emain  Macha,  the  residence  of  the  kings  of  Ulster. 
The  remains  are  about  two  miles  west  of  Armagh.  They  consist  of 
a  great  circular  rath,  with  a  deep  trench  outside  of  it,  and  a  high 
mound.  The  space  within  the  rath  is  about  thirteen  acres.  Emain 
Macha  was  founded  about  three  centuries  before  the  beginning  of 
the  Christian  era  by  Macha  of  the  Golden  Hair,  queen  of  Ulster. 


120  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

are  in  your  fate,  O  fairest  child!  You  will  have 
a  little  grave  apart  to  yourself;  you  will  be  a  tale 
of  wonder  forever,  Deirdre." 

Then  Cathbad  went  away,  and  Fedlimid  still 
seeking  to  avert  the  fate  foretold  for  Deirdre 
gathered  together  his  men,  and  brought  them 
away  with  him  to  a  great,  lonely  mountain,  and 
there  he  bade  them  make  a  little  house  by  the 
side  of  a  round,  green  hillock  and  plant  a  garden 
of  apple  trees  behind  it  and  build  a  wall  about  it. 
And  over  the  house  he  bade  them  put  a  roof  of 
green  sods  so  that  passers-by  could  not  distin- 
guish the  house  from  the  hillock,  nor  think  that 
any  one  lived  there. 

And  Fedlimid  chose  Levarcham,  daughter  of 
Aedh,  to  care  for  Deirdre,  and  sent  her  and  his 
child  to  live  in  the  sod-covered  house  on  the  great, 
wild  mountain.  And  he  made  everything  com- 
fortable for  them,  and  gave  them  a  store  of  pro- 
visions, and  he  told  Levarcham  that  she  should 
never  want  for  anything  as  long  as  she  lived. 

And  so  Deirdre  and  her  foster  mother  lived  on 
the  lonely  mountain  and  no  stranger  discovered 
their  whereabouts  for  fourteen  years.  And 
Deirdre  grew  as  straight  and  trim  as  a  rush  in  a 
bog;  and  she  was  as  graceful  as  the  swan  on  the 

Levarcham  [Low'  [cow]  er  kam] 


DEIRDRE  121 

wave;  and  fleet  as  the  deer  on  the  hill.  And  no 
maiden  in  Eire  was  more  beautiful  or  gentle. 

And  all  the  knowledge  that  Levarcham  had 
she  imparted  to  Deirdre.  There  was  not  a  blade 
of  grass,  nor  a  bird  singing  in  the  wood,  nor  a 
star  shining  from  heaven  but  Deirdre  knew  the 
name  of  it.  There  was  one  thing  however  which 
Levarcham  denied  to  Deirdre  and  that  was  the 
friendship  of  any  other  person  than  herself. 

But  one  cloudy,  winter  night  a  hunter  lost  his 
way  on  the  mountain,  and  as  he  wandered  on  he 
was  overcome  with  weariness  and  sleep,  and  lay 
down  on  the  side  of  the  green  hillock  near 
Deirdre's  house.  And  while  he  was  lying  there 
he  dreamed  that  he  was  near  a  house  of  the  Sidhe, 
and  could  feel  the  warmth  which  radiated  from 
it;  and  hear  the  suantraigh  of  the  sidhe  within. 
And  he  called  out  in  his  dream :  "Let  whoever  is 
inside  bring  me  in  also,  in  the  name  of  the  sun 
and  the  moon." 

Deirdre  heard  the  voice  and  asked  Levarcham 
its  meaning.  "It  is  only  the  birds  of  the  air  who 
have  gone  astray,  and  are  trying  to  find  one 
another"  said  Levarcham,  "but  let  them  go 
back  to  the  branches  of  the  wood."  Soon  the 
hunter  cried  out  again  in  his  dream,  and  again 

Suantraigh  [Shoon' three]:     Sleep,  music. 


122  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

Deirdre  wished  to  know  whence  the  sound  came. 
And  again  Levarcham  answered:  "The  birds  of 
the  air  are  looking  for  one  another,  let  them  go 
past  to  the  branches  of  the  wood." 

Then  the  third  time  the  hunter  called:  "Let 
whoever  is  inside  bring  me  in  also,  in  the  name 
of  the  elements,  for  I  am  perishing  with  cold  and 
hunger." 

"Oh  tell  me  what  is  that,  Levarcham?"  said 
Deirdre. 

"Nothing  for  you  to  see,  my  child,"  answered 
Levarcham,  "nothing  but  the  birds  of  the  air; 
they  are  lost  to  one  another.  Let  them  go  past 
to  the  branches  of  the  wood ;  there  is  no  place  nor 
shelter  for  them  here  tonight." 

"O,  Levarcham,"  said  Deirdre,  "the  bird  asked 
to  come  in  in  the  name  of  the  sun  and  the  moon ; 
and  you  have  told  me  we  must  never  refuse  what 
is  asked  like  that.  If  you  will  not  let  in  the  bird 
that  is  perishing  with  cold  and  hunger,  I  must 
do  it  myself." 

So  Deirdre  drew  the  bolt  from  the  leaf  of  the 
door,  and  let  in  the  hunter.  And  she  offered  him 
a  seat,  and  food,  and  drink. 

"Come  now  and  eat,"  then  said  Deirdre  "for 
you  must  be  very  hungry." 


DEIRDRE  123 

"Hungry  and  cold,  indeed,  was  I  when  I  came 
into  this  house"  said  the  hunter,  "but,  by  my 
word,  the  first  glance  from  your  bright  eyes  made 
me  forget  it  all." 

"How  little  you  are  able  to  curb  your  tongue," 
said  Levarcham  to  him.  "You  are  given  the  shel- 
ter of  a  house  and  the  warmth  of  a  hearth  on  this 
dark,  winter  night  and  the  only  thing  asked  in 
return  is  that  you  keep  quiet." 

"I  am  thankful  for  your  kindness,"  said  the 
hunter,  "and  surely  I  shall  strive  to  talk  as  little 
as  possible;  but,  I  swear  by  the  oath  my  people 
swear  by,  that  if  some  of  the  people  of  the  world 
whom  I  know  saw  the  loveliness  that  is  hidden 
away  here  they  would  soon  take  it  from  you." 

"Who  are  they?"  said  Deirdre. 

"I  will  tell  you,"  said  the  hunter;  "they  are 
Naoise,  son  of  Usnach,  and  Ainnle  and  Ardan, 
his  two  brothers." 

"Describe  these  men  to  me,"  said  Levarcham, 
"BO  that  if  we  should  ever  meet,  I  would  know 
them." 

"I  can  describe  them  no  better  than  this:" 
said  the  hunter,  "their  hair  is  black  as  the  raven's 
wing;  their  skin  is  white  as  the  swan's.  Their 
cheeks  are  like  the  blood  of  the  speckled,  red  calf 

Ainnle  [Ahn'leh].        Ardan  [AwrMhan'].         Naoise  [Nee' sha]. 


124  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

and  the  salmon  of  the  stream  or  the  deer  of  the 
grey  mountain  cannot  out-leap  them.  And  the 
head  and  shoulders  of  Naoise  are  above  those  of 
all  the  other  men  of  Eire." 

"That  may  all  be"  said  Levarcham,  instead  of 
thanking  him  for  his  description,  "but  do  you  go 
away  from  here  as  fast  as  possible,  and  take 
another  road  from  that  you  came;  and,  by  my 
word,  I  have  small  thanks  for  you  or  for  her  who 
let  you  in." 

"You  need  not  send  him  away  for  saying  what 
he  did  to  me,"  interposed  Deirdre,  "for  I  already 
knew  about  those  three  men;  I  saw  them  in  a 
dream  last  night,  and  they  were  hunting  upon  a 
hill." 

But  the  hunter  did  not  seek  to  tarry  longer  in 
Levarcham's  house;  and  as  he  walked  away  he 
kept  thinking  how  lonely  Conchubar,  the  Ard 
Righ  of  Ulster,  must  be;  for  he  had  no  wife  to 
greet  him  night  and  morning.  And  he  thought 
that  if  Conchubar  could  see  the  beautiful  maiden 
of  the  mountain  he  would  bring  her  home  and 
make  her  his  queen.  "And,"  he  said  to  himself, 
"I  will  get  the  good  will  of  the  king  by  telling  him 
where  there  is  a  maiden  worthy  in  every  way  to 
be  his  wife." 


DEIRDRE  125 

So  'he  went  directly  to  the  palace  at  Emain 
Macha,  and  sent  word  to  king  Conchubar  that  he 
had  news  for  him,  and  begged  him  to  hear  it. 

The  king  sent  for  him  and  asked  him  the 
reason  of  his  journey  to  Emain  Macha. 

"I  have  come  to  tell  you,  O  King,"  said  the 
hunter,  "that  I  have  seen  the  most  beautiful 
maiden  that  ever  was  born  in  Eire." 

"Who  is  this  maiden?"  said  the  king,  "and 
where  did  you  see  her  ?  It  is  strange  indeed  that 
no  one  has  told  me  of  her  before.  Are  you  sure 
it  was  not  in  a  dream  you  have  seen  her  ?" 

"I  am  not  telling  you  a  dream,  O  king,  but  no 
other  man  has  seen  this  beautiful  creature,  nor 
can  anyone  see  her  unless  I  tell  him  of  her  dwell- 
ing place." 

"If  you  will  bring  me  where  she  is,  you  shall 
have  a  good  reward,"  said  the  king. 

"I  will  bring  you  there,"  said  the  hunter. 

"Remain  with  my  household  tonight,"  said  the 
king,  "and  early  tomorrow  morning  I  and  my 
.people  will  go  with  you." 

"I  will  stay,"  said  the  hunter.  And  he  stayed 
that  night  in  the  household  of  king  Conchubar. 

Then  Conchubar  sent  word  to  Fergus  and 
other  great  men  of  Ulster  what  he  was  about  to 


126  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

do.  And  though  it  was  early  when  the  songs  of 
the  birds  began  in  the  woods,  it  was  earlier  still 
when  Conchubar,  the  Ard  Righ  of  Ulster,  arose 
with  his  little  company  of  friends  in  the  fresh 
May  morning.  And  the  dewdrops  were  glisten- 
ing on  bush  and  flower  as  they  journeyed  along 
toward  the  green  hill  where  Deirdre  was  living. 

And  many  a  young  man  who  had  set  out  in  the 
morning  with  a  glad,  light  step  walked  wearily 
and  slowly  before  the  end  of  the  day ;  so  long  and 
craggy  was  the  way. 

They  were  all  happy  when  the  hunter  said, 
pointing  to  a  little  valley  on  the  side  of  the  mount- 
ain :  "The  maiden  you  seek  lives  in  yonder  vale, 
and  may  no  wind  of  misfortune  blow  your  foot- 
steps aside  before  you  reach  it ;  but,  as  for  me,  I 
will  go  no  nearer  it  than  this." 

Conchubar  and  his  friends  then  hastened  to 
the  green  hillock,  and  they  knocked  at  the  door  of 
Deirdre's  house.  Levarcham  called  out  that 
neither  answer  nor  opening  would  be  given  to 
anyone  whatsoever,  and  that  she  did  not  wish  to 
be  disturbed. 

"Open,"  said  Conchubar,  "in  the  name  of  the 
Ard  Righ  of  Ulster." 

When   Levarcham   heard   Conchubar's   voice, 


DEIRDRE  127 

she  knew  it  would  be  impossible  to  conceal 
Deirdre  any  longer;  so  she  hastened  to  let  in  the 
king  and  as  many  of  his  people  as  could  follow 
him. 

The  king,  when  he  beheld  Deirdre,  thought 
that  never  in  the  course  of  the  day,  or  in  the 
dreams  of  the  night,  had  he  seen  so  beautiful  a 
creature;  and  there  and  then  he  gave  her  his 
heart  full  of  love.  And  he  put  Deirdre  up  on  the 
shoulders  of  his  men  and  she  and  Levarcham 
were  brought  away  to  Emain  Macha. 

And  Deirdre  promised  that,  after  a  year  and 
a  day  had  gone  by,  she  would  become  the  wife  of 
Conchubar  and  queen  of  Ulster.  Conchubar 
gave  her  for  companions  pleasant,  modest  maid- 
ens of  her  own  age  and  a  teacher  from  whom  she 
learned  the  things  most  useful  for  young  girls  to 
know.  And  she  became  wise  and  skillful,  and 
more  beautiful,  and  Conchubar  loved  her  more 
than  anything  in  the  world. 


128  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER  II. 

One  day,  when  Deirdre  and  her  companions 
were  walking  on  a  hill  near  Emain  Macha  in  the 
pleasant  sunshine,  they  saw  three  men  coming 
toward  them.  And  as  they  came  nearer  Deirdre 
remembered  what  the  hunter  had  said,  and 
thought  of  the  three  men  she  had  seen  in  her 
dream,  and  she  said  to  herself:  "These  men  I 
now  see  are  the  three  sons  of  Usnach,  and  the 
tallest  one  is  Naoise,  he  who  is  head  and 
shoulders  above  all  the  men  of  Eire." 

The  three  brothers  passed  by  without  turning 
to  look  at  the  young  maidens  on  the  hill  side. 
They  were  singing  as  they  walked  and  the  sing- 
ing of  the  sons  of  Usnach  was  enchantment  and 
sweetest  music  to  all  listeners.  And  when 
Deirdre  heard  it,  so  great  a  love  for  Naoise  came 
into  her  heart,  that  she  could  not  help  calling 
him,  and  her  voice  rang  clear :  "Naoise,  Naoise, 
son  of  Usnach,  take  me  with  you." 

Now  Ainnle  and  Ardan,  when  they  heard  her 
call,  knew  it  was  the  beautiful  young  maiden  from 
the  court  of  Conchubar;  and  they  feared  that  if 
Naoise,  their  brother,  should  see  her  he  would 
want  her  for  his  wife ;  for  she  was  not  yet  mar- 


DEIRDRE  129 

ried  to  the  king.  So  they  said  to  each  other :  "Let 
us  hasten  our  steps  for  the  road  is  long  and  the 
dusk  of  evening  coming  on."  They  wished  to 
get  out  of  sight  and  hearing  of  Deirdre  before 
Naoise  should  see  her.  But  he  had  heard  her  and 
he  said:  "What  cry  was  that?  It  seems  to  me  it 
is  not  well  for  me  to  answer,  and  yet  it  is  not  easy 
for  me  to  refuse." 

"It  was  but  the  cry  of  Conchubar's  wild  ducks" 
said  his  brothers.  "Let  us  quicken  our  steps  for 
we  have  a  long  road  to  travel  and  the  dusk  of 
evening  is  coming  on.  " 

They  did  so,  and  were  speedily  widening  the 
distance  between  Deirdre  and  themselves  when 
again  she  called :  "Naoise,  Naoise,  son  of  Usnach, 
take  me  with  you." 

"What  cry  is  this  that  strikes  my  heart? 
I  do  not  know  whether  to  answer  it,  or  to  dis- 
regard it,"  said  Naoise. 

"It  is  the  honking  of  Conchubar's  wild 
geese,"  answered  his  brothers,  "let  us  not  tarry 
to  listen,  but  make  the  best  of  our  time  for  the 
darkness  of  night  is  coming  on." 

So  they  hurried  along,  and  the  distance  be- 
tween themselves  and  Deirdre  grew  wider  and 
wider,  and  again  her  call  came  fainter  and 


130  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

sweeter:  "Naoise,  Naoise,  son  of  Usnach,  take 
me  with  you." 

"Someone  is  calling  me,"  exclaimed  Xaoise 
"so  sweet  a  voice  my  ears  have  never  heard,  but 
it  strikes  my  heart  like  steel." 

"You  have  heard  but  the  scream  of  Conchu- 
bar's  lake  swans,"  said  his  brothers. 

"It  is  a  human  cry  I  have  heard,"  replied 
Naoise,  "and  I  swear  by  my  hand  of  valour  I  will 
go  no  further  until  I  find  the  one  who  has  given 
it." 

So  Naoise  turned  back  and  met  Deirdre  and 
he  thought  he  had  never  seen  a  woman  so  beauti- 
ful; and  there  and  then  he  gave  her  a  greater 
love  than  he  had  ever  given  any  vision,  or  living 
creature. 

And  he  lifted  her  high  on  his  shoulder,  and 
said  to  his  brothers:  "Now  indeed  we  may  hasten 
our  steps,  and  end  our  journey  while  yet  some 
light  is  left  in  the  sky." 

"Leave  the  maiden  here,"  said  Ainnle  and 
Ardan,  "it  will  bring  disaster  upon  us  thus  to 
take  her  away." 

"Nevertheless,  she  shall  go  with  us,"  said 
Naoise,  "and  we  will  leave  Conchubar's  kingdom 
before  he  has  a  chance  to  take  her  from  us." 


DEIRDRE  131 

So  the  sons  of  Usnach  called  their  people 
together  and  that  night  they  set  out  with  three 
times  fifty  men;  three  times  fifty  women,  and 
three  times  fifty  wolf  dogs,  and  in  their  midst  was 
Deirdre. 

And  they  traveled  from  one  part  of  Eire  to 
another;  from  Essruadh  in  the  south,  to  Beinn 
Etair  in  the  east,  and  they  were  often  in  danger 
of  being  destroyed  by  Conchubar's  devices. 

One  time  the  Druids  raised  a  thick  and  thorny 
spinney  before  them,  but  Naoise  and  his  brothers 
cut  their  way  through  it.  Another  time,  while 
they  were  crossing  a  ford,  through  the  spells  of 
the  Sidhe  the  waters  rose  around  them  and  they 
barely  escaped  drowning,  one  and  all. 

And  finally  they  sailed  away  to  the  island  of 
Alban,  and  settled  in  a  lonely  place.  And  when 
hunting  failed  them  they  fell  upon  the  cattle  in 
the  fields  about  them.  And  the  men  of  Alban,  in 
order  to  avenge  themselves  for  the  destruction  of 
their  cattle,  gathered  together  to  make  an  end  of 
the  sons  of  Usnach  and  their  people. 

But  they  called  upon  the  king  of  Alban  for  aid, 
and  he  lent  them  a  friendly  hand  in  all  their  en- 
counters and  difficulties. 

All  this  time  the  king  of  Alban  knew  nothing 


132  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

of  Deirdre  nor  had  the  sons  of  Usnach  let  any 
stranger  see  her.  But  it  happened  that  early  one 
morning  the  king's  steward  made  his  way  into 
the  house  where  Naoise  and  Deirdre  lived;  and 
waiting  but  for  one  glimpse  of  her  wonderful 
beauty,  he  hastened  back  to  the  king  and  said: 
"O  King,  I  have  done  what  has  never  been  done 
before:  I  have  found  a  woman  who  would  make 
a  fitting  wife  for  you.  She  dwells  on  the  shore 
of  Loch  Ness,  and  is  well  worthy  of  you,  O  king 
of  Alban.  But  before  she  can  be  queen,  Naoise 
must  die ;  for  it  is  his  wife  of  whom  I  am  speak- 
ing." 

"I  will  not  harm  Naoise,"  said  the  king,  "but 
go  you  secretly  to  the  beautiful  woman  and  bid 
her  come  to  see  me." 

The  steward  brought  the  king's  message  to 
Deirdre,  but  she  sent  him  away,  and  told  all  he 
had  said  to  her,  to  Naoise.  So  the  king  sent  the 
sons  of  Usnach  into  every  hard  fight,  hoping  they 
would  meet  their  death,  but  they  won  every 
battle  and  came  safe  again  home.  And  they 
moved  to  Loch  Eitche  near  the  sea  and  for  a 
while  lived  there  in  peace  and  comfort.  And  for 
food  they  caught  the  salmon  of  a  spring-fed 
stream,  from  the  door  of  their  dwelling;  and, 

Etcha :  In  present  glen  Etive  in  Scotland. 


DEIRDRE  133 

from  their  windows,  they  killed  the  deer  of  the 
grey  hills. 

And  when  Naoise  went  to  the  court  of  Alban's 
king,  none  of  the  great  men  there  were  more 
splendidly  attired.  He  wore  a  bright  purple 
cloak  of  finest  fit,  trimmed  with  fringe  of  gold. 
His  coat  had  fifty  hooks  of  silver,  and  a  brooch 
on  which  were  a  hundred  polished  gems.  His 
weapons  were  a  gold-hilted  sword;  two  blue- 
green  spears  with  bright  points  and  a  dagger, 
the  color  of  yellow  gold,  which  had  a  hilt  of 
silver. 

And  the  two  children  of  Naoise  and  Deirdre 
were  named  Gaiar  and  Aebgreine;  and  were 
given  into  the  keeping  of  Mannanan  MacLir,  the 
sea  god,  and  were  reared  by  him  with  greatest 
care  in  Emain  of  the  Appletrees.  And  Man- 
nanan had  Bobaras,  the  poet,  come  to  impart 
learning  to  Gaiar;  and  when  Aebgreine  of  the 
Sunny  Face  was  grown  to  womanhood  she  be- 
came the  wife  of  Rinn,  son  of  Eochaidh  luil  of 
Tir-na-n-og. 

Gaiar  [Gay'ar].        Aebgreine  [Av  gra'nah].         Eochaidh  luil  [Och' 
ee  Yule],         Tir'-na-n-og ' :  Land  of  the  young. 


134  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER    III. 

And  Conchubar  still  reigned  in  Ulster.  And 
he  gave  a  splendid  feast  for  the  greatest  of  his 
nobles ;  and  at  the  feast  were  Cathbad  the  druid ; 
Geanan,  son  of  Cathbad;  Ferceirtne;  Sencha, 
son  of  Ailell;  Conall  Cearnach;  Fergus  and 
Cuchulain  of  Muirthemne,  Knight  of  the  Red 
Branch  of  Ulster,  and  many  other  poets  and 
heroes.  And  songs  were  sung,  poems  recited, 
and  branches  of  kinship  were  traced  by  an- 
nalists and  never  was  there  a  merrier  feast  until 
Conchubar,  the  king,  raised  his  voice  and  said: 
"I  desire  you  to  tell  me:  have  you  ever  seen  a 
better  house  than  this  house  of  Emain,  or  a  better 
hearth  than  my  hearth  in  any  place  you  have  ever 
been?" 

"We  have  never  seen  better  house  nor  hearth 
than  that  of  Conchubar,  the  king,"  they  answered 
with  one  accord. 

"But  can  you  not  think  of  something  that  is 
wanting?" 

"We  know  of  nothing  from  the  loss  of  which 
we  suffer"  said  they.  "I  do  not  think  as  you  do." 
said  Conchubar.  "I  know  of  something  that  is 
wanting  and  that  is  the  presence  of  the  three  best 

Geanan  [Gan'nan].         Ferceirtne  [Far  kart'nah]. 


DEIRDRE  135 

candles  of  the  Gael;  the  three  noble  sons  of 
Usnach :  Naoise,  Ainnle  and  Ardan.  No  woman 
in  the  world  should  be  able  to  keep  them  from  us, 
they  are  sons  of  a  king  and  they  would  defend  the 
high  kingship  against  the  best  men  of  Eire." 

"We  would  have  said  that  long  ago,  if  we  had 
dared."  said  they.  "These  three  alone  could  de- 
fend the  province  of  Ulster,  for  they  are  lions  of 
endurance  and  bravery." 

"If  that  is  so,"  said  Conchubar,  "let  us  send  a 
messenger  to  Alban  to  ask  them  to  come  back 
again." 

"Whom  will  you  send  with  the  message?" 
asked  they  all  together. 

"There  is  only  one  way  to  decide  that,"  said 
the  king.  "Naoise  is  under  geasa  not  to  return 
with  any  man  but  one  of  these  three:  Conall 
Cearnach,  Fergus  or  Cuchulain;  and  now  I  will 
find  out  which  of  these  three  loves  me  best." 

Then  the  king  called  Conall  aside,  and  asked 
him:  "What  would  you  do  with  me  if  I  should 
send  you  for  the  sons  of  Usnach,  and  they  were 
destroyed  by  me  — a  thing  I  do  not  mean  to  do?" 

"As  I  am  not  going  to  bring  them,"  said 
Conall,  "I  will  say  that  any  Ulster  man  who 


136  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

harmed  the  sons  of  Usnach  would  get  shorten- 
ing of  life  and  sorrow  of  death  from  me." 

"I  see  well  enough,"  said  Conchubar,  "that  you 
are  no  friend  of  mine." 

Then  he  called  Cuchulain  to  him  and  asked  him 
the  same  that  he  had  asked  Conall.  "I  give  you 
my  word — as  I  am  not  going,"  said  Cuchulain, 
"that  if  the  sons  of  Usnach  were  killed  in  Ulster, 
it  is  not  to  one  person  only,  but  to  every  Ulster- 
man  I  thought  unfriendly  to  them,  I  would  give 
shortening  of  life  and  the  sorrow  of  death." 

"I  see,  indeed,"  said  Conchubar,  "that  you  are 
no  friend  of  mine."  And  he  sent  Cuchulain  away. 

Fergus  was  the  next  to  be  called,  and  he  was 
asked  the  same  question  as  were  the  other  two. 

"Whatever  may  happen,"  answered  Fergus, 
"your  blood  will  never  flow  by  my  hand;  but,  if 
any  other  man  should  seek  to  harm  the  sons  of 
Usnach,  I  hope  it  may  be  in  my  power  to  give 
him  shortening  of  life  and  sorrow  of  death." 

"I  see  it  is  you,  Fergus,  who  must  go  for  them," 
said  Conchubar,  "and  do  not  delay  but  set  out  by 
sunrise  tomorrow.  And  when  you  return,  I  put 
you  under  geasa  to  let  the  fort  of  Borach,  son 
of  Cainte,  be  your  first  stopping  place  and  as  soon 

Borach  [Bawr'ach].         Cainte  [Kant 'yah]. 


DEIRDRE  137 

as  you  arrive  there,  be  it  day  or  night,  send  on  the 
sons  of  Usnach  to  Emain." 

The  king  and  Fergus  went  back  to  the  com- 
pany together  and  Fergus  told  them  that  it  was 
he  who  had  been  chosen  by  Conchubar  to  fetch 
the  sons  of  Usnach  back  to  Emain  Macha. 

Then  Conchubar  went  to  Borach  and  told  him 
to  prepare  a  feast  for  Fergus  on  his  return  from 
Alban  with  the  sons  of  Usnach.  "And,"  said 
Conchubar,  "he  is  under  geasa  not  to  refuse  to 
partake  of  your  feast." 

Fergus  set  out  at  sunrise  the  next  morning,  and 
he  brought  with  him  no  guard  nor  helpers,  but 
only  his  sons :  Fair-Haired  lollan,  Buinne  Ruadh ; 
and  Cuillan,  the  shield-bearer,  bringing  with  him 
his  shield. 

They  journeyed  on  until  they  reached  the 
dwelling  place  of  the  sons  of  Usnach  in  Alban. 
They  had  three  houses:  The  house  where  the 
food  was  prepared ;  the  house  where  they  ate ;  and 
the  house  where  they  slept. 

When  Fergus  came  to  the  harbor  of  Loch 
Eitche  he  gave  a  great  shout.  Naoise  and 
Deirdre  were  playing  chess,  and  Naoise  heard  the 
shout  and  said  to  Deirdre :  "That  is  the  shout  of 
a  man  from  Eire." 

lollan  [E'lan].         Buinne  Ruadh  [Bun 'yah  Roo'ah]. 


138  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

"I  think  it  is  the  cry  of  a  man  of  Alban,"  said 
Deirdre. 

A  second  shout  from  Fergus  sounded  from  the 
harbor.  "That  is,  indeed,  the  shout  of  a  Gael 
from  Eire,"  said  Naoise  again. 

"It  is  not,"  said  Deirdre,  "let  us  go  on  play- 
ing." 

But  a  third  shout  was  heard,  and  by  that  time 
the  sons  of  Usnach  knew  that  it  was  the  shout  of 
Fergus,  and  Naoise  asked  Ardan  to  go  out  and 
meet  him. 

Then  Deirdre  told  Naoise  that  she  knew  when 
she  had  heard  the  first  shout  who  gave  it. 

"Why  did  you  not  say  so  then,  my  queen?" 
said  Naoise. 

"Because  of  a  vision:  Last  night  I  saw  three 
birds  who  came  to  us  from  Emain  Macha  with 
three  drops  of  honey  in  their  mouths.  They  left 
the  honey  with  us  and  took  away  with  them  three 
drops  of  our  blood." 

"What  is  your  interpretation  of  the  vision,  my 
queen  ?" 

"My  interpretation  is  this:  Fergus  is  coming 
from  Conchubar  with  a  message  of  peace  for  us, 
for  honey  is  not  sweeter  than  a  message  of  peace 
sent  from  a  false  heart." 


DEIRDRE  139 

"Do  not  attach  such  importance  to  your  vision, 
Deirdre,"  said  Naoise,  "it  signifies  nothing  but 
troubled  sleep  and  gloomy  thoughts.  It  is  a  long 
time  since  Fergus  came  into  the  harbor,  go  to 
meet  him,  Ardan,  and  bring  him  here  at  once." 

So  Ardan  went  to  meet  Fergus,  and  his  two 
sons :  "My  love  to  you,  dear  comrades,"  said  he. 

"My  fondest  love  to  you  Ardan,"  said  they. 

"And  what  news  have  you  brought  from 
Eire?"  asked  Ardan. 

"The  best  news  I  have  for  you"  said  Fergus, 
"is  this:  Conchubar,  Ard  Righ  of  Ulster,  has 
sworn  by  the  earth  beneath  him,  by  the  heaven 
above  him,  and  by  the  sun  that  travels  to  the  west, 
that  he  will  not  rest  by  day  nor  sleep  by  night 
until  the  sons  of  Usnach  come  back  to  the  coun- 
try of  their  birth ;  and  he  has  sent  us  to  ask  you 
there." 

But  when  they  had  come  to  Naoise's  house 
and  delivered  their  message  to  him,  Deirdre  said : 
"It  is  better  for  the  sons  of  Usnach  to  remain 
here,  for  they  have  greater  sway  in  Alban  than 
Conchubar  has  in  Eire." 

"Even  so,"  said  Fergus,  "one's  own  country  is 
better  than  all  things  else ;  no  pleasure  is  so  great 
as  that  of  living  in  your  own  home;  and  no  sor- 


140  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

row  can  equal  the  sorrow  of  having  to  dwell  in 
an  alien  land." 

"That  is  true/'  said  Naoise,  "Eire  is  dearer  to 
me  than  Alban,  though  here  I  have  greater  riches 
and  power  than  I  had  there." 

So  Naoise  consented  to  return  with  Fergus, 
but  it  was  greatly  against  Deirdre's  will  that  he 
did  so.  "Remain  in  Alban  O  Naoise,  my  hus- 
band! I  know  by  my  dream  the  sons  of  Usnach 
will  meet  only  treachery  from  Conchubar." 

"Lay    down    your    dream,    Deirdre,    on    the 
height  of  the  hills,  lay  your  dream  on  the  sailors 
of  the  sea  and  the  rough,  grey  rocks ;  for  in  peace 
we  will  go  and  in  peace  we  will  be  received  by 
Conchubar  of  the  Red  Branch." 

But  Deirdre  spoke  again:  "I  see  Conchubar 
merciless  in  his  dun;  I  see  Naoise  without 
strength  in  battle ;  I  see  Ainnle  and  Ardan  with- 
out shield  or  breastplate;  I  see  the  falseness  of 
Fergus ;  and  Deirdre  weeping,  weeping  bitterly !" 

"Do  not  be  swayed  by  the  dream  of  a  woman," 
said  Fergus  to  Naoise,  "Do  not  slight  the  friend- 
ship of  the  Ard  Righ,  but  come  at  once  to  Ulster." 

So  Naoise  consented  to  go,  and  Fergus 
promised  him  protection,  if  necessary  against  all 
the  men  of  Eire. 


DEIRBRE  141 

And  when  they  were  in  their  ships  upon  the 
sea,  Deirdre  looked  back  to  Alban  and  said: 

"My  love  to  you,  O  land  to  the  east! 
It    is    with    grief    I    leave    your    pleasant    bays,    your 

flowery  plains  and  heathery  hills. 
Dear  to  me  is  the  land  to  the  east,  I  would  not  have 

come  away  from  it,  but  that  I  came  with  Naoise. 
Glen  Masan,  my  grief!     We  were  rocked  to  pleasant 

sleep  over  the  wooded  harbor  of  Masan ! 
Glen  Eitche,  my  grief!     The  home  of  the  sun  is  Glen 

Eitche ! 
Glen-da-Rua,  my  grief!      Sweet    is    the  voice  of  the 

cuckoo  on  the  bending  branch  of  the  hill  above 

Glen-da-Rua ! 
Dear  to  me  is  Droighin,  dear  are  its  waters  over  the 

clean  sands! 
I  would  never  have  come  away  from  it  but  that  I  came 

with  Naoise!" 

Droighin  [Dri'  yeen]. 


142  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER  IV. 

It  was  not  long  until  they  reached  Dun  Borach, 
and  Borach  greeted  them  in  the  friendliest 
way,  and  told  Fergus  he  had  a  feast  prepared  for 
him.  And  when  Fergus  said  he  could  not  delay 
for  a  feast  but  must  hasten  to  Emain  Macha, 
Borach  said:  "There  are  geasa  on  you  Fergus 
not  to  leave  Dun  Borach  until  you  have  partaken 
of  the  feast.  And  it  is  Conchubar's  wish  that  you 
send  the  sons  of  Usnach  ahead  of  you  to  Emain 
Macha." 

Fergus  was  very  angry  when  he  heard  this: 
"You  have  done  an  evil  thing,  you  and  Conchu- 
bar,  thus  putting  me  under  geasa,"  said  he;  and, 
turning  to  Naoise,  asked  whether  he  should  go 
or  remain. 

Deirdre  was  the  one  to  answer :  "It  should  be 
easy  for  you  to  choose  whether  to  refuse  the  feast 
or  forsake  the  sons  of  Usnach." 

"I  will  not  forsake  them,"  said  Fergus  "for  I 
will  send  my  sons  lollan  and  Buinne  with  them." 

"By  my  word,"  said  Naoise,  "you  speak  as  if 
we  sought  protection,  but  up  to  this  time  we  have 
always  protected  ourselves  and  we  shall  do  the 
same  now." 


DEIRDRE  143 

Then  Naoise  and  his  brothers,  and  Deirdre, 
and  the  sons  of  Fergus  'went  away,  leaving 
Fergus  with  a  sad  heart  at  Dun  Borach. 

Naoise  and  his  companions  journeyed  on  and 
when  they  were  near  Emain  Macha,  Deirdre 
said:  "I  will  give  you  a  sign  by  which  you  will 
know  whether  Conchubar  is  dealing  fairly  with 
you  or  not.'* 

"Tell  me  your  sign,  my  queen,"  said  Naoise. 

"If  Conchubar  invites  you  into  his  own  house 
where  the  nobles  of  Ulster  are,  then  he  will  deal 
fairly  with  you ;  but,  if  he  sends  you  to  the  house 
of  the  Red  Branch,  then  beware  of  treachery," 
answered  Deirdre. 

They  soon  arrived  at  Emain  Macha,  and 
Naoise  took  the  hand-wood  and  struck  the  door. 
The  doorkeeper  asked  who  was  there,  and  when 
they  told  him  he  brought  word  to  Conchubar. 

Conchubar  then  called  his  stewards  and  serving 
men  to  him  and  asked  them  if  the  house  of  the 
Red  Branch  was  well  supplied  with  food  and 
drink,  and  they  replied  that  if  the  seven  armies 
of  Ulster  should  come  there  hungry  and  thirsty 
they  would  find  plenty  to  satisfy  them. 

"If  that  is  so,"  said  Conchubar,  "bring  the  sons 
of  Usnach  to  the  House  of  the  Red  Branch." 


144  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

Then  Deirdre  said:  "Let  us  return  to  Alban; 
even  yet  it  is  not  too  late." 

But  the  sons  of  Usnach  and  the  sons  of  Fergus 
said  it  would  be  a  cowardly  thing  to  return.  So 
they  went  on  to  the  House  of  the  Red  Branch, 
and  with  them  went  Conchubar's  stewards  and 
serving  men.  And  all  except  Deirdre  and  the 
sons  of  Usnach  ate  and  drank  and  were  glad  and 
merry. 

Meanwhile  Conchubar  was  seeking  for  some- 
one to  bring  him  word  whether  Deirdre  was  as 
beautiful  as  she  had  been  when  he  first  saw  her. 
"And  if  she  is,"  he  said,  "I  will  bring  her  to 
Emain  Macha  with  edge  of  blade  and  point  of 
spear;  in  spite  of  the  sons  of  Usnach,  however 
brave  they  may  be." 

"I  will  go  to  the  House  of  the  Red  Branch," 
said  Levarcham,  "and  I  will  bring  you  word  of 
Deirdre's  appearance." 

Levarcham  loved  Deirdre  better  than  anyone 
else,  and  since  the  time  when  she  had  gone 
with  Naoise  to  Alban,  Levarcham  had  often 
visited  her;  bringing  messages  from  Eire  to 
Deirdre  and  from  Deirdre  to  Eire.  And  she 
went  now  to  the  House  of  the  Red  Branch,  and 
near  it  she  saw  a  troop  of  strange,  armed  men; 


DEIRDRE  145 

and  she  knew  they  must  have  been  brought 
thither  to  aid  Conchubar  in  battle. 

And  when  Levarcham  found  Naoise  and  Deir- 
dre  they  were  playing  chess  and  resting  after 
their  long  journey  from  Alban.  She  greeted  them 
fondly,  and  said:  "You  should  not  spend  your 
time  playing  chess,  there  are  greater  things  to  be 
done.  Conchubar  has  sent  me  to  bring  him  word 
whether  Deirdre  is  as  beautiful  as  she  used  to 
be ;  and  great  is  my  grief  to  think  of  the  treacher- 
ous deeds  which  will  be  done  in  Emain  tonight, 
to  quench  the  three  brightest  candles  of  the  Gael." 

And  Levarcham  wept  at  parting  with  Naoise 
and  his  people  and  she  went  back  to  Conchubar 
and  he  asked  her  what  tidings  she  had  brought 
of  Deirdre. 

"I  have  good  news  and  bad  news  for  you"  said 
Levarcham. 

"Tell  me  both,"  said  Conchubar. 

"The  best  news  is  this:  The  sons  of  Usnach, 
the  bravest  and  mightiest  men  of  all  the  world, 
have  come  to  you  and  beside  them  your  kingdom 
will  need  no  other  defense.  And  the  worst  news 
is  this :  She  who  was  the  loveliest  of  women  when 
she  left  Emain,  has  lost  the  beauty  which  she  used 
to  have." 


146  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

At  first  Conchubar  believed  Levarcham,  but 
after  thinking  the  matter  over  he  concluded  to 
send  another  messenger ;  and  he  sent  Gelban,  the 
son  of  the  king  of  Lochlann,  to  bring  him  word 
concerning  Deirdre.  "For,"  said  he,  "if  she  has 
the  same  appearance  she  used  to  have,  there  is 
not  on  the  ridge  of  the  earth  nor  the  waves  of  the 
sea  a  more  beautiful  woman." 

So  Gelban  went  to  the  House  of  the  Red 
Branch,  and  through  an  open  window  he  saw 
Naoise  and  Deirdre,  and  near  them  was  the  chess 
board  on  which  they  had  been  playing.  And  as 
Gelban  stood  there  Deirdre  caught  a  glimpse  of 
him  and  told  Naoise  someone  was  watching  them 
through  the  window.  And  Naoise  the  moment 
he  heard  this  threw  a  chessman,  which  he  hap- 
pened to  have  in  his  hand,  and  put  out  one  of  Gel- 
ban's  eyes. 

Then  Gelban  went  back,  as  best  he  could  to 
Conchubar.  "You  were  merry  and  pleasant  go- 
ing away;  but  you  are  sad  and  cheerless  coming 
back"  said  Conchubar  to  him. 

Then  Gelban  told  his  story,  and  Conchubar 
said:  "The  man  who  made  that  throw  will  be 
king  of  the  world,  unless  his  life  is  shortened. 
But  tell  me  is  Deirdre  still  beautiful?" 


DEIRDRE  147 

"No  woman  could  be  more  beautiful  than  Deir- 
dre,"  said  Gelban,  "and,  although  Naoise  put  out 
one  of  my  eyes,  I  would  have  stayed  to  look  at 
her  with  the  other,  had  you  not  bidden  me  hasten 
back  again." 

Gelban's  story  filled  Conchubar  with  envy,  and 
he  commanded  the  men  of  his  army  to  take  Deir- 
dre  from  the  sons  of  Usnach. 

So  they  went  to  the  House  of  the  Red  Branch 
and  they  gave  three  great  shouts  around  it,  and 
they  put  red  flames  of  fire  to  it.  And  fierce  was 
the  fight  between  the  sons  of  Usnach  and  their 
people,  and  Conchubar,  and  the  men  of  Ulster. 
Buinne,  the  son  of  Fergus,  fought  with  great 
valor  until  three  fifths  of  the  fighting  men  out- 
side fell  by  his  hand.  Then  Conchubar  sought 
out  the  man  by  whose  hand  so  many  of  his  heroes 
had  fallen,  and  said  to  him:  "I  will  make  you  a 
good  gift  if  you  will  leave  off  fighting." 

"What  gift  is  that?"  said  Buinne.  "  A  hun- 
dred cantreds  of  land,"  said  Conchubar. 

"What  beside?"     said  Buinne. 

"My  own  friendship  and  counsel,"  said  Con- 
chubar. 

"I  will  accept  your  gift,"  said  Buinne. 

It  was  a  beautiful,  fertile  mountain  which  the 


148  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

king  gave  him  but  it  turned  barren  that  same 
night,  and  nothing  green  ever  grew  on  it  again, 
and  it  was  called  the  Mountain  of  the  Share  of 
Buinne. 

And  Conchubar's  son,  Fiacra  the  fair,  and 
lollan  met  in  the  fight  around  the  House  of  the 
Red  Branch.  And  Fiacra  carried  Conchubar's 
shield,  the  Ochain,  and  his  two  spears,  and  his 
sword,  the  Gorm  Glas,  and  lollan  threw  Fiacra 
down  under  his  shield;  and  the  shield  roared,  as 
it  always  did  when  the  person  who  carried  it  was 
in  danger.  And  the  three  waves  of  Eire,  the 
Wave  of  Truagh,  the  Wave  of  Cliodna  and  the 
Wave  of  Rudraigh  roared  in  answer  to  it. 

And  Conchubar  and  the  sons  of  Usnach  met  in 
the  fight  and  Ainnle  said  to  Conchubar:  "Al- 
though we  took  white-handed  Deirdre  from  you, 
we  have  done  you  many  kindnesses  at  other 
times ;  and  now  you  should  remember  them.  The 
day  your  ship  fjull  of  silver  and  gold  was  going 
to  wreck  upon  the  sea,  we  gave  you  our  own 
ship  while  we  went  swimming  to  the  harbor." 

"No  thanks  do  I  give  you  for  that,"  said  Con- 
chubar, "nor  for  fifty  times  that." 

Then  Ardan  said :  "We  did  another  deed  of 
kindness,  and  now  is  the  time  for  you  to  remem- 

The  Fews  mountain  in  Armagh,  as  far  as  is  known  it  has  always  been 
barren.  Ochain  [O'kawn]:  The  Roarer.  Gorm  Glas  [Gurm 

Glas] :  The  Blue  Green. 


DEIRDRE  149 

her  it.  The  day  your  speckled  horse  failed  you 
on  the  green  of  Dundealgan  we  gave  you  our 
grey  horse  to  bring  you  swiftly  over  the  road." 

"No  thanks  do  I  give  you  for  that,  nor  for  fifty 
times  that,"  said  Conchubar. 

And  then  Naoise  said:  "Now  is  the  time  for 
Conchubar,  the  king,  to  remember  how  the  sons 
of  Usnach  came  to  his  aid  in  the  seven  battles 
of  Beinn  Etair." 

"For  fifty  times  that  service  you  should  get 
no  thanks  now,"  said  Conchubar. 

And  then  more  terrible  became  the  fight,  and 
the  sons  of  Usnach  linked  their  shields  together 
around  Deirdre,  and  they  made  three  leaps  over 
the  walls  of  Emain,  killing  three  hundred  men. 

Conchubar  was  filled  with  fear  when  he  saw 
this,  so  he  went  to  Cathbad,  the  druid,  and  said 
to  him:  "Go,  Cathbad,  to  the  sons  of  Usnach, 
and  work  enchantment  on  them,  or  they  will 
destroy  the  men  of  Ulster  forever ;  and  I  give  you 
the  word  of  a  true  hero  that  I  do  not  seek  to 
harm  them,  but  only  to  make  terms  with  them." 

Cathbad  believed  the  king,  and  he  forthwith 
used  all  his  arts  and  power  to  hinder  the  sons  of 
Usnach.  Through  his  enchantment  the  sem- 
blance of  a  dark  sea  rose  around  them,  and  they 

Dundealgan :  Gaelic  name  of  Dundalk. 


150  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

dropped  their  swords  and  attempted  to  swim  with 
Deirdre  through  the  boisterous  billows.  So  it 
was  that  the  sons  of  Usnach  fell  into  the  hands 
of  Conchubar's  men.  And  it  is  too  sorrowful 
to  tell  how  Maine  of  the  Rough-Hand,  son  of  the 
king  of  Norway,  when  asked  to  do  so  by  Con- 
chubar,  slew  the  sons  of  Usnach  with  the  sword 
which  Mannanan  MacLir  had  given  to  Naoise. 

As  for  Deirdre,  they  left  her  to  herself.  And 
she  wept  and  tore  her  fair  hair  and  throwing 
herself  on  the  ground  near  the  grave  which  they 
were  digging  for  the  sons  of  Usnach  she  lamented 
bitterly: 

"Long  is  the  day  without  the  sons  of  Usnach ; 
three  hawks  of  Slieve  Cuilenn ;  three  lions  of  the 
fort  of  Conrach;  three  heroes  not  good  at 
homage;  their  fall  is  a  cause  of  sorrow! 

"Long  is  the  day  without  the  sons  of  Usnach : 
three  pillars  in  the  breach  of  battle ;  three  pupils 
that  were  with  Scathach  three  dragons  of  Dun 
Monad;  grief  for  the  three  brightest  candles  of 
the  Gael! 

"My  sight  is  gone  from  looking  at  the  grave 
of  Naoise;  dig  not  the  new  grave  narrow;  I  am 
Deirdre,  the  unhappy;  I  would  lie  in  the  grave 
with  mighty  Naoise." 

Slieve  [Schlev]:    Mountain.  Scathach    [Skaw'haw]:    Protection. 

Monad  [Mo'nah]. 


DEIRDRE  151 

After  this  caoin,  Deirdre  kissed  the  body  of 
Naoise  three  times;  and  then  she  arose  and  fled 
through  the  night  until  she  came  to  where  waves 
were  breaking  on  the  strand  of  a  little  loch.  And 
a  fisherman  and  his  wife  saw  her,  and  they 
brought  her  into  their  cabin  and  offered  her  food 
and  drink.  But  she  would  not  eat,  nor  drink,  nor 
sleep;  but,  with  her  head  upon  her  knees,  she 
kept  weeping  for  the  sons  of  Usnach. 

And  when  Conchubar  found  that  Deirdre  was 
gone  he  sent  Levarcham  to  look  for  her  and  bring 
her  back  to  the  palace,  that  he  might  make  her 
his  wife. 

Levarcham  found  her  in  the  fisherman's  cabin 
and  bade  her  return  to  Emain  Macha,  where  she 
would  have  riches  and  protection  and  whatever 
she  might  desire.  And  Levarcham  gave  her  this 
message  from  Conchubar:  "Come  up  to  my 
house,  O  beautiful  branch,  with  the  dark  eye- 
lashes; come,  and  have  no  fear  on  your  fair  face 
of  hatred,  jealousy  or  reproach." 

But  Deirdre  said,  "I  will  not  go  up  to  his 
house,  I  do  not  desire  gold  nor  silver,  nor  horses 
nor  lands ;  but  only  leave  to  lie  in  the  grave  with 
the  sons  of  Usnach." 

And  again  Deirdre  lamented: 

Caoin  [Keen] :  A  lament. 


152  GAELIC  FOLK   TALES 

"Delightful  to  Conchu'bar,  the  king,  are  pipes 
and  trumpets;  but  the  singing  of  the  sons  of 
Usnach  was  more  delightful  to  me. 

"The  deep  sound  of  waves  was  in  their  sing- 
ing; dear  were  their  pleasant  words;  dear  their 
grey  eyes  searching  the  forest;  and  their  steps 
were  pleasant  on  the  high,  dark  hill. 

"Do  not  break  the  strings  of  my  heart,  Con- 
chubar ;  though  Naoise  is  dead  my  love  is  strong 
to  live." 

So  Levarcham  went  back  to  tell  Conchubar 
what  Deirdre  had  said,  and  Deirdre  went  out  on 
the  strand  of  the  little  loch.  The  night  was 
dark  and  her  eyes  were  dim  with  weeping,  and 
she  walked  into  the  water  where  it  made  a  deep 
pool  by  the  shore ;  and  the  turbid  waves  brought 
her  happiness  as  well  as  death,  for  she  did  not 
wish  to  live  after  Naoise. 

Conchubar,  when  he  heard  Deirdre's  message 
from  Levarcham,  went  down  to  the  fisherman's 
cabin  bringing  five  hundred  men  writh  him. 
And  they  found  Deirdre's  white,  lifeless  body 
on  the  strand.  Then  remorse  and  sorrow  came 
to  Conchubar  because  of  the  sad  fate  which 
through  him  had  befallen  the  sons  of  Usnach 
and  Deirdre.  And  they  buried  Deirdre  near 


DEIRDRE  153 

the  sons  of  Usnach  and  they  raised  flagstones 
over  their  graves  and  on  them  wrote  their 
names  in  Ogham. 

And  Fergus,  son  of  Rogh,  on  the  day  after 
the  death  of  the  sons  of  Usnach  came  to  Emain 
Macha  and,  when  he  found  out  what  deeds  of 
treachery  and  terror  had  been  done  he,  with 
Cormac  Conloingeas,  Conchubar's  own  son,  and 
Duach,  the  Beetle  of  Ulster,  made  an  attack 
on  Conchubar's  house.  And  many  of  his  men 
were  killed  and  Emain  Macha  was  destroyed 
by  fire. 

After  that  Fergus  and  his  men  went  into  Con- 
nacht  and  took  service  with  Ailell  and  Maeve  at 
Cruachan.  And  that  is  how  they  came  to  fight 
with  the  men  of  Connacht  in  the  war  for  the 
brown  Bull  of  Cuailgne. 

Rogh  [Roy].         Ailell  [Awl'yeel]         Cruachan  [Crucawn'].         Cul- 
aigne  [Cool 'yah]. 


Oisin's  Tale  of  Tir-na-n-og 


CHAPTER  I. 

SHORT  time  after  the  battle  of 
Gavra,  in  which  many  of  our  heroes 
fell,  and  among  them  Carbri  of  the 
Liffey,  king  of  Eire,  we  were  hunt- 
ing on  a  dewy  morning  near  the 
shore  of  Loch  Lein.  The  trees  and 
hedges  near  and  far  were  fragrant  with  blos- 
soms, and  birds  sang  in  the  branches.  We  soon 
raised  the  deer  from  the  thickets,  and  as  they 
bounded  over  the  plain  our  hounds  followed  in 
full  cry. 

But  the  hunt  was  not  more  than  well  begun 
before  we  saw  a  rider  coming  swiftly  toward 
us  from  the  west,  and  we  soon  thereafter  per- 
ceived that  it  was  a  maiden  on  a  white  steed. 
She  reined  in,  as  she  approached,  and  we  all 
ceased  from  the  chase  on  seeing  her;  for  never 
before  had  Finn  or  the  Feine  beheld  so  lovely 
a  maiden.  A  slender,  golden  diadem  encircled 

Oisin  [Aw'sheen].  Loch  Lein:  Correct  Irish  name  of  the  present 
"Lakes  of  Killamey."  Finn:  Chief  of  the  Feine  [Fay'nah]  or 
national  militia  of  Eire.  The  modern  Fenian  is  derived  from  Feine. 

154 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  155 

her  head,  and  she  wore  a  brown  robe  of  silk 
spangled  with  stars  of  red  gold,  which  was 
fastened  in  front  with  a  golden  brooch;  and  fell 
from  her  shoulder  until  it  swept  the  ground. 
Her  yellow  hair  floated  like  a  sunlit  cloud  about 
her.  Her  eyes  were  clear  as  drops  of  dew  upon 
the  grass,  and  blue  as  the  blossoms  of  the  wild 
ailestar.  She  sat  more  gracefully  than  the  swan 
upon  Loch  Lein,  holding  her  bridle  with  her 
small  white  hand  and  curbing  her  steed  with  a 
golden  bit.  Her  white  steed  was  covered  with 
a  smooth,  flowing  mantle;  and  shod  with  four 
shoes  of  pure,  yellow  gold.  And  in  all  Eire 
a  better,  or  more  beautiful,  steed  could  not  be 
found. 

As  the  maiden  rode  slowly  into  Finn's  pres- 
ence, he  addressed  her  courteously  in  these 
words :  "Who  art  thou,  O  lovely  princess  ?  Tell 
us  thy  name  and  the  name  of  thy  court  and  re- 
late to  us  the  cause  of  thy  coming." 

She  answered  in  a  sweet  and  gentle  voice: 
"Noble  king  of  the  Feine,  I  have  had  a  long 
journey  this  day,  for  my  country  lies  far  off  in 
the  western  sea.  I  am  the  daughter  of  the  king 
of  Tir-na-n-og  and  my  name  is  Nia  of  the 
golden  hair."  "And  what  is  it  that  has  caused 


166  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

thee  to  come  so  far  across  the  sea?  Has  thy 
husband  forsaken  thee,  or  has  some  other  evil 
befallen  thee?" 

"My  husband  has  not  forsaken  me,  for  I  have 
never  been  married  or  betrothed  to  any  man. 
I  love  thy  noble  son,  Oisin,  and  that  is  why  I 
have  come  to  Eire.  It  is  not  without  reason  I 
have  given  him  my  love,  and  undertaken  this 
long  journey;  for  I  have  often  heard  of  his 
bravery  and  gentleness,  and  his  noble  bearing. 
Many  princes  and  high  chiefs  have  sought  me 
in  marriage,  but  I  never  consented  to  wed,  for 
my  heart  was  indifferent  to  all  men  until  it  was 
moved  with  love  for  thy  gentle  son,  Oisin." 

"When  I  heard  these  words;  and  when  I 
looked  on  the  lovely  maiden,  with  her  dew-bright 
eyes  and  glossy  golden  hair,  I  was  all  over  in 
love  with  her.  I  went  to  her  and  taking  her 
slender  hand  in  mine,  I  told  her  she  was  a  mild 
star  of  brightness  and  beauty;  and  that  I  pre- 
ferred her  to  all  other  princesses  of  all  lands 
whatsoever,  and  would  gladly  make  her  my  wife." 

"Then,"  said  she,  "I  place  you  under  geasa, 
which  true  heroes  never  break  through,  to  come 
with  me  on  my  white  steed  to  Tir-na-n-og,  the 
land  of  never  ending  youth.  It  is  the  most  de- 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  157 

lightful  and  the  most  renowned  country  under  the 
sun.  Gold  and  silver  and  jewels ;  and  honey  and 
wine  are  there  in  abundance,  and  the  trees  bear 
fruit  and  blossoms  and  green  leaves  at  the  same 
time  all  the  year  round.  You  will  be  given  a 
hundred  swords,  and  a  hundred  robes  of  silk 
and  satin ;  a  hundred  swift  steeds  and  a  hundred 
slender  hounds,  of  keenest  scent.  You  will  have, 
for  your  own,  cows  without  number;  and  flocks 
of  sheep  with  fleeces  of  gold;  a  coat  of  mail  that 
cannot  be  pierced ;  and  a  sword  that  never  misses 
a  stroke  and  from  which  no  one  ever  escaped 
alive.  There  are  feastings  and  harmless  pastimes 
each  day.  Harpers  shall  delight  you  with  their 
sweet  music.  A  hundred  warriors  fully  armed 
shall  always  await  your  call;  and  you  may  wear 
the  diadem  of  the  King  of  Tir-na-n-og.  This 
diadem  has  never  before  been  given  to  anyone 
under  the  sun,  and  it  will  guard  you  day  and 
night  in  tumult,  and  battle,  and  danger  of  every 
kind.  Lapse  of  time  shall  bring  you  neither 
decay  nor  death,  and  you  shall  be  forever  young 
and  gifted  with  unfading  beauty  and  strength. 
All  these  delights  you  shall  enjoy,  and  many 
others  that  I  do  not  mention;  and  I,  myself, 


158  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

will  be  your  wife  if  you  come  with  me  to  Tir- 
na-n-og." 

I  replied  that  she  was  my  choice  above  all  the 
maidens  in  the  world,  and  that  I  would  willingly 
go  with  her  to  the  land  of  youth. 

When  my  father  and  his  champions  heard  me 
say  this,  and  knew  that  I  was  going  from  them, 
they  raised  three  shouts  of  lamentation  and 
grief,  and  Finn  came  up  to  me  and  took  my  hand 
saying  sadly:  "AYoe  is  me,  my  son,  that  you  are 
going  away  from  me,  for  I  fear  that  you  will 
never  return!" 

His  noble  countenance  was  dimmed  with  sor- 
row; and,  though  I  fully  believed  that  I  should 
see  him  again,  I  could  not  repress  my  tears  as  I 
kissed  him  farewell. 

I  then  took  leave  of  my  dear  companions  and 
mounted  the  white  steed,  while  the  lady  kept  her 
seat  before  me.  She  gave  the  signal  and  the 
steed  galloped  swiftly  and  smoothly  toward  the 
west,  until  he  reached  the  strand,  and  when  his 
goldjshod  hoofs  touched  the  waves  he  shook 
himself  and  neighed  three  times.  He  made  no 
delay  but  plunged  forward  at  once,  moving  over 
the  face  of  the  sea  with  the  speed  of  a  cloud 
shadow  on  a  March  dav.  The  wind  overtook 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  159 

the  waves,  and  we  overtook  the  wind  so  that 
we  straightway  lost  sight  of  land;  and  saw  noth- 
ing but  billows  tumbling  before  us  and  billows 
tumbling  behind  us. 


160  GAELIC  FOLK   TALES 

CHAPTER    II. 

But  after  a  while  other  shores  came  into  view, 
and  we  saw  many  wonderful  things  on  our  jour- 
ney: islands  and  cities  we  saw;  lime  white  man- 
sions and  bright  grianans,  and  lofty  palaces.  A 
hornless  fawn  once  crossed  our  course,  bounding 
nimbly  from  the  crest  of  one  wave  to  the  crest 
of  another,  and  close  after  her  in  full  chase  was 
a  white  hound  with  red  ears.  We  saw  also  a 
lovely  young  maiden  mounted  on  a  brown  steed, 
with  a  golden  apple  in  her  hand.  She  passed 
swiftly  by,  and  a  young  warrior  on  a  white 
steed  plunged  after  her.  This  warrior  wore  a 
long,  flowing  mantle  of  yellow  silk;  and  held  in 
his  hand  a  gold-hilted  sword.  I  understood 
none  of  these  things  and,  wondering  greatly, 
I  asked  the  princess  what  they  signified. 

She  answered:  "Heed  not  what  you  see  here, 
Oisin,  for  all  this  is  as  nothing  compared  with 
what  you  shall  see  in  Tir-na-n-og." 

At  last  we  saw  at  a  great  distance  a  palace, 
more  splendid  than  all  the  others,  rising  over 
the  waves  on  the  very  verge  of  the  sea.  As  we 
drew  near  its  front  gleamed  and  glittered  like 
the  morning  sun.  I  asked  the  lady  what  royal 

Grianans  [Gree'ah  nans]:  Sun-bowers;  summer  pavilions. 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  161 

house  this  was,  and  who  was  the  prince  that 
ruled  over  it. 

"  'This  country  is  the  land  of  Virtues/  "  she 
replied.  "  'Its  king  is  the  great  Fomor  of  the 
Blows,  and  its  queen  the  daughter  of  the  land 
of  Life.  This  Fomor  brought  the  lady  away  by 
force  from  her  own  country,  and  keeps  her  a 
prisoner  in  his  palace.  But  she  has  put  him 
under  geasa,  that  he  cannot  break  through,  never 
to  ask  her  to  marry  him,  until  she  can  find  a 
champion  to  fight  him  in  single  combat.  But 
as  yet  no  hero  has  come  hither  courageous 
enough  to  meet  the  giant  and  rescue  the  lady 
from  bondage/  ' 

A  blessing  on  you,  golden  haired  Nia,  I  re- 
plied, I  have  never  heard  music  sweeter  than 
your  voice;  and,  although  I  feel  pity  for  the 
princess,  your  story  is  pleasant  for  me  to  hear; 
and,  moreover,  I  will  go  to  the  palace  and  try 
to  overcome  the  Fomor  in  single  combat  and 
thus  free  the  lady. 

So  we  came  to  land,  and  as  we  drew  nigh  to 
the  palace,  the  lovely  young  queen  met  us  and 
bade  us  welcome. 

She  led  us  in  and  seated  us  on  chairs  of  gold. 
Choice  food  was  placed  before  us,  and  drinking 


162  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

horns,  and  methers  of  mead,  and  golden  goblets 
of  sweet  wine  were  offered  us.  When  we  had 
eaten  and  drunk,  the  mild,  young  princess  told 
us  her  story;  while  tears  welled  out  of  her  soft, 
dark  eyes.  She  ended  by  saying:  "'Alas,  I  can 
never  return  to  my  own  country  and  to  my 
father's  house  as  long  as  this  great  and  cruel 
giant  is  alive.' ' 

When  I  heard  her  sad  words,  and  saw  her 
tears  falling,  my  heart  was  again  filled  with  a 
desire  to  aid  her;  and  bidding  her  cease  griev- 
ing, I  gave  her  my  hand  as  a  pledge  that  I  would 
meet  the  giant  and  either  slay  him  or  fall  myself 
in  her  defence. 

While  we  were  yet  speaking,  we  saw  the  giant 
coming  toward  the  palace,  carrying  a  load  of 
deer  skin  on  his  back;  and  holding  a  great  iron 
club  in  his  hand.  He  was  large  of  body  and  ugly 
and  hateful  in  appearance.  When  he  saw  us  he 
threw  down  his  load  and  turned  a  surly  look 
on  the  princess;  then,  without  greeting  us,  or 
showing  the  least  mark  of  courtesy,  he  challenged 
me  to  battle  in  a  loud,  rough  voice. 

It  was  not  my  wont  to  be  dismayed  by  a  call 
to  arms  or  to  be  terrified  by  the  sight  of  an 
enemy;  and  so  I  went  forth  at  once  without  the 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  163 

least  fear.  But  although  I  had  fought  many  bat- 
tles in  Eire  against  wild  boars,  and  enchanters 
and  foreign  invaders,  never  before  did  I  find  it 
so  hard  to  preserve  my  life.  We  fought  for  three 
days  and  three  nights  without  food  or  drink  or 
sleep,  for  the  giant  gave  me  not  a  moment  for 
rest;  and,  neither  did  I  at  any  time  allow  him 
to  desist  from  the  fray. 

At  length  when  I  beheld  the  two  princesses 
weeping  in  great  fear,  and  when  I  called  to  mind 
my  father's  deeds  in  battle,  a  furious  valor  arose 
within  me  and  with  a  sudden  onset  I  felled  the 
giant  to  the  earth  and,  instantly,  before  he  could 
recover  from  the  blow  I  gave  him,  I  cut  off  his 
head. 

When  the  maidens  saw  the  monster  lying  dead 
upon  the  ground,  they  uttered  three  cries  of  joy 
and  they  came  to  me  and  led  me  into  the  palace. 

I  was  covered  with  gory  wounds  and  a  sudden 
dizziness  of  brain  and  feebleness  of  body  siezed 
me.  But  the  daughter  of  the  king  of  the  land 
of  Life  applied  precious  balsam  and  healing 
herbs,  to  my  wounds;  and  in  a  short  time  I  was 
healed  and  my  cheerfulness  of  mind  returned. 

Then  I  buried  the  giant  in  a  deep  and  wide 
grave,  and  I  raised  a  great  cairn  over  him  and 


164  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

placed  on  it  a  stone  with  his  name  engraved  in 
Ogham. 

We  rested  that  night,  and  at  the  dawn  of  the 
next  day  Nia  said  to  me  that  it  was  time  for  us 
to  resume  our  journey  to  Tir-na-n-og.  So  we 
took  leave  of  the  daughter  of  the  king  of  the 
land  of  Life.  Although  the  princess  was  joy- 
ful when  she  thought  of  her  release  from  the 
cruel  giant,  she  wept  at  our  departure,  and  we 
were  not  less  sorry  to  bid  her  farewell. 

When  we  had  again  mounted  the  white  steed, 
he  galloped  toward  the  strand;  and,  as  soon  as 
his  hoofs  touched  the  waves,  he  shook  himself  and 
neighed  three  times.  We  plunged  forward  over 
the  clear,  green  sea,  with  the  speed  of  a  March 
wind  on  a  hillside,  and  soon  we  saw  nothing  but 
billows  tumbling  before  us,  and  billows  tum- 
bling behind  us.  And  once  again  we  saw  the 
fawn  chased  by  the  white  hound  with  red  ears, 
and  the  maiden  with  the  golden  apple  passed 
swiftly  by,  followed  by  the  young  warrior  in 
yellow,  silken  robe;  mounted  on  his  white  steed. 
And,  as  before,  we  passed  many  strange  islands 
and  white  palaces. 

Dark  clouds  now  hid  the  sky  from  view.  A 
storm  arose,  and  the  sea  was  illumined  by  con- 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  165 

slant  flashes  of  lightning.  But  though  the  winds 
blew  up  from  every  point  of  the  heavens,  and  the 
waves  towered  and  roared  around  us,  the  white 
steed  kept  his  course  straight  on,  moving  calmly 
and  swiftly  as  before,  through  the  foam  and 
blinding  spray. 

He  was  not  delayed  or  disturbed  in  the  least, 
and  he  did  not  turn  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left. 


166  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER   III. 

When  at  length  the  storm  abated  and  the  sun 
again  shone  brightly,  I  looked  around  and  saw 
a  country,  near  at  hand,  all  green  and  full  of 
flowers;  with  beautiful  smooth  plains,  purple 
hills,  and  bright  lakes  and  water  falls.  Not  far 
from  the  shore  stood  a  palace  of  surprising 
beauty  and  splendor.  It  was  everywhere  adorned 
with  gold  and  gems  of  every  color:  blue,  green, 
crimson  and  yellow;  and  on  either  side  were 
grianans,  shining  with  precious  stones,  and  built 
by  artists  the  most  skillful  that  could  be  found. 
I  asked  Nia  the  name  of  that  delightful  country, 
and  she  answered  me:  "This  is  my  native  coun- 
try, Tir-na-n-og,  and  there  is  nothing  I  have 
promised  which  you  will  not  find  in  it." 

As  soon  as  we  reached  the  shore  we  dis- 
mounted, and  as  we  did  so  we  saw  advancing 
from  the  palace  a  troop  of  noble  warriors,  all 
clad  in  bright  garments  who  came  forth  to  meet 
and  welcome  us.  Following  these  were  a  stately 
glittering  host  with  the  king  at  their  head,  wear- 
ing a  robe  of  bright  yellow  satin,  and  a  crown 
that  sparkled  with  gold  and  diamonds.  The 
queen  came  after  attended  by  a  hundred  lovely 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  167 

young  maidens.  And  in  all  the  world  could  not 
be  found  a  king  and  queen  who  could  excel  these 
in  beauty  and  gracefulness  and  majesty. 

After  they  had  kissed  their  daughter  the  king 
took  my  hand  and  said  aloud  in  the  hearing  of 
the  host :  "This  is  Oisin,  son  of  Finn,  for  whom 
my  daughter  Nia  traveled  over  the  sea  to  Eire. 
This  is  Oisin  who  is  to  be  the  husband  of  Nia 
of  the  golden  hair.  We  give  you  a  hundred 
thousand  welcomes  brave  Oisin.  You  will  be 
forever  young  in  this  land.  All  kinds  of  de- 
lights and  innocent  pleasures  are  awaiting  you, 
and  my  daughter  shall  be  your  wife,  for  I  am 
king  of  Tir-na-n-og." 

I  thanked  the  king  with  all  my  heart,  and  I 
bowed  low  to  the  queen  after  which  we  went  into 
the  palace,  and  there  we  found  a  banquet  pre- 
pared. 

The  feasting  and  rejoicing  lasted  for  ten  days, 
and  on  the  last  day  I  was  wedded  to  gentle  Nia 
of  the  golden  hair. 

I  lived  in  the  land  of  youth  more  than  three 
hundred  years,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  it 
seemed  to  me  as  if  only  three  years  had  passed 
since  the  day  I  parted  from  my  friends. 


168  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

Nevertheless,  I  began  to  have  a  longing  to 
see  my  father,  Finn,  and  my  old  companions. 

So  I  asked  leave  of  Nia  and  of  the  king  to 
visit  Eire.  The  king  gave  permission;  and  Nia 
said:  "I  will  give  consent;  though,  my  heart  is 
sorrowful,  for  I  fear  you  will  never  return  to 
me."  I  replied  that  I  would  surely  return  and 
that  she  need  not  feel  any  doubt  or  dread;  for 
the  white  steed  would  bring  me  back  in  safety. 
Then  she  spoke  these  words;  and  they  seemed 
very  strange  to  me: 

"I  will  not  refuse  this  request,  though  the 
thought  of  your  journey  afflicts  me  with  great 
grief  and  fear.  Eire  is  not  now  as  it  was  when 
you  left  it.  The  great  king  Finn  and  the  war- 
rior Feine  are  all  gone  and  you  will  find  instead 
an  army  of  champions  who  do  battle,  not  with 
sword  and  plunder ;  but,  with  deeds  of  mercy  and 
kindness,  whose  laws  are  of  forgiveness  not  re- 
venge, and  whose  king  is  the  Tailkenn,  the  lord 
of  a  country  where  the  high  places  are  accorded 
to  the  meek  and  lowly,  not  to  the  proud  and 
powerful. 

"Now  think  well  on  what  I  say  to  you  and 
keep  my  words  in  your  mind:  If  even  once  you 
alight  from  the  steed,  you  can  never  come  back 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  169 

to  me.  Again  I  warn  you:  If  you  place  your 
feet  on  the  green  sod  of  Eire,  you  will  never  re- 
turn to  this  lovely  land.  A  third  time,  Oisin, 
my  beloved  husband,  a  third  time  I  say  to  you: 
If  you  alight  from  the  white  steed  you  will  never 
see  me  again!" 

I  promised  that  I  would  faithfully  remember 
every  word  she  had  spoken  to  me,  and  that  on 
no  account  would  I  alight  from  the  white  steed. 
Then,  as  I  looked  into  her  gentle  face  and  marked 
her  grief,  my  heart  was  weighed  down  with  sad- 
ness, and  I  could  not  restrain  my  tears.  But 
even  so,  my  mind  was  bent  on  coming  back  to 
Eire. 


170  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER   IV. 

When  I  had  mounted  the  white  steed,  he  gal- 
loped directly  toward  the  shore.  We  moved 
swiftly  as  before  over  the  clear,  green  sea.  The 
wind  overtook  the  waves,  and  we  overtook  the 
wind,  so  that  we  straightway  left  the  land  of 
youth  far  behind  us. 

And  as  before  we  passed  many  islands  and 
cities,  until  at  length  we  landed  on  the  beautiful 
shores  of  Eire. 

As  I  traveled  through  the  country  I  scarcely 
recognized  the  old  places  for  everything  was 
strangely  altered.  Nowhere  was  there  any  sign 
of  Finn  and  his  host.  I  began  to  fear  that  Nia's 
words  were  true. 

At  length,  I  espied  in  the  distance  a  company 
of  little  men  and  women  all  mounted  on  little 
horses,  and  when  I  came  near  they  greeted  me 
kindly  and  courteously.  They  looked  at  me  with 
wonder  and  curiosity,  and  marveled  much  at  my 
great  size,  and  the  beauty  and  majesty  of  my 
person.  I  asked  them  about  Finn  and  the  Feine 
warriors:  if  any  of  them  were  still  living;  or,  if 
any  sudden  disaster  had  swept  them  away. 

And  one  replied :   "We  have  heard  of  the  hero 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  171 

who,  three  times  three  generations  ago,  ruled  in 
Eire;  and  who  never  had  an  equal  for  bravery 
and  wisdom.  The  poets  of  the  Gael  have  sung 
his  deeds  and  the  deeds  of  the  Feine,  and  it  is 
related  in  their  songs  that  Finn  had  a  son  named 
Oisin.  And  the  poets  tell  that  Oisin,  when  he 
had  reached  the  height  of  manly  beauty  and 
valour,  went  away  with  a  young,  fairy  maiden 
to  Tir-na-n-og;  and  his  father  and  his  friends 
sorrowed  greatly  for  him;  and  sought  him  long 
and  in  many  places.  But  he  was  never  seen 
again." 

When  I  heard  all  this,  I  was  filled  with 
amazement;  and  my  heart  grew  heavy  with  sor- 
row. I  silently  turned  my  steed  from  the  won- 
dering people  and  straightway  set  out  for  Alvin 
of  the  green  hill  slopes.  As  I  journeyed  along 
I  could  not  free  my  mind  from  forebodings  of 
further  sorrows  awaiting  me.  When  I  reached 
Alvin  I  found  my  fears  were  justified;  for  I  found 
the  hill  deserted  and  lonely,  and  my  father's 
palace  in  ruins  and  overgrown  with  grass  and 
weeds. 

Slowly  and  sadly  I  turned  my  face  from  the 
home  of  my  childhood,  and  fared  through  the 
land  in  every  direction  in  search  of  my  friends. 

The  Gael:  The  race  at  present  called  Irish.  Gaelic:  The  language  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Ireland.  The  Gaels  of  Ireland  are  the  oldest 
branch  of  the  Aryan  race.  Eirinn  [Ar'yan]:  Genitive  of  Eire;  a 
native  of  Eire.  Alvin  [Awl'lyn] :  Headquarters  of  the  Feine  of 
Leinster.  Chief  residence  of  Finn  in  Kildare. 


172  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

But  I  met  only  crowds  of  little  people  who  re- 
garded me  with  wonder.  Nowhere  did  I  meet 
anyone  who  knew  me  or  whom  I  knew.  I  visited 
all  the  old  time  haunts  of  the  Feine;  but,  like 
Alvin,  they  were  all  solitary  and  in  ruins. 

Finally  I  came  to  Glenasmole  where  the  beau- 
tiful Dodder  flows ;  and  where  many  a  time  I  had 
hunted  with  the  Feine.  There  I  saw  a  crowd 
of  people  in  the  glen.  As  I  approached  one  of 
them  came  forward  and  said  to  me:  "Come  to 
us,  thou  mighty  hero,  and  help  us  out  of  our 
strait  for  thou  art  a  man  of  vast  strength." 

I  went  to  them  and  found  a  number  of  men 
trying  to  raise  a  large,  flat  stone.  It  was  half 
lifted  from  the  ground.  But  those  who  were 
under  it  were  not  strong  enough  either  to  raise 
it  further  or  to  free  themselves  from  its  weight. 
And  they  were  in  great  distress,  and  on  the  point 
of  being  crushed  to  death. 

I  thought  it  a  shameful  thing  that  so  many 
men  should  be  unable  to  lift  this  stone  which 
Oscar,  if  he  were  alive,  would  take  in  his  right 
hand  and  fling  over  the  heads  of  the  feeble 
crowd.  After  I  had  watched  them  for  a  little 
while,  I  stooped  forward  and  seized  the  flag  with 
one  hand,  and  putting  forth  my  strength,  I  flung 

Glenasmole:  The  glen  of  the  thrash.  Dodder:  small  stream  flowing 

through  Wicklow  and  Dublin.         Oscar  [Us '  kar]  :  Son  of  Oisin. 


OISIN  IN  TIR-NA-N-OG  173 

it  seven  perches  from  its  place,  and  relieved  the 
little  men.  But  my  action  put  great  strain  on 
the  golden  saddle  girth  of  the  white  steed  under 
me,  and  bounding  forward  to  keep  myself  from 
falling  I  suddenly  came  to  the  ground  on  my  two 
feet. 

The  moment  the  steed  felt  himself  free,  he 
shook  himself  and  neighed  three  times.  Then, 
starting  off  with  the  speed  of  a  cloud  shadow  on 
a  March  day,  he  left  me  standing  helpless  and 
sorrowful.  Instantly  a  woeful  change  came  over 
me.  The  sight  of  my  eyes  began  to  fade;  the 
ruddy  beauty  of  my  face  vanished;  my  strength 
left  me  and  I  fell  to  the  earth,  a  withered  old 
man,  blind,  wrinkled  and  feeble. 

The  white  steed  was  never  seen  again.  I 
never  recovered  my  sight,  my  strength,  or  my 
youth,  but  have  lived  sorrowing  for  my  gentle, 
golden  haired  Nia,  and  thinking  back  to  Finn, 
my  father,  and  the  companions  of  my  youth  all 
lost  to  me  now,  yet  hoping  that  sometime,  some- 
where I  shall  meet  them  again. 


The  Pursuit  of  the  Gilla  Dacker 


CHAPTER  I. 

N  La  Baal  Tinne,  the  feast  of  the 
coming  of  good  weather,  Finn,  the 
son  of  Cumal,  feasted  the  Feine  and 
the  chief  people  of  Eire  at  Allen  of 
the  Green  Hill  Slopes.  And  when  the  feast  was 
over  the  Feine  reminded  Finn  that  it  was  time  to 
begin  the  chase  through  the  plains  and  glens  and 
wildernesses  of  Eire.  During  the  first  half  of 
the  year,  that  is  from  La  Baal  Tinne  until  La 
Samnah,  the  feast  of  the  close  of  good  weather, 
the  Feine  were  accustomed  to  spend  their  time 
in  hunting;  and  during  the  second  half  of  the 
year,  from  La  Samnah  until  La  Baal  Tinne,  they 
lived  in  the  mansions  and  in  the  betas,  or  houses 
of  hospitality  of  Eire. 

And  this  time  when  the  Baal  Tinne  feast  was 
over,  Finn  and  his  chiefs  chose  the  province  of 
Munster  for  the  first  chase;  and  they  set  out 
with  dogs  and  men  and  traveled  through  Offaly, 
and  by  the  twelve  mountains  of  Evlinn,  until 

Gilla :  Servant.  Dacker  [Dyak '  er] :  Troublesome.  Cumal  [Cool]. 
Finn:  Same  as  in  preceding  story.  Allen:  Same  as  Alvin.  La 
Samnah  [Law  Sow'nah]:  The  first  day  of  November.  La  Baal 
Tinne:  The  first  day  of  May;  Day  of  the  Baal  fire.  Offaly  [O  fahl' 
yah]:  District  comprising  portions  of  Queen's  County  and  Kildare. 

174 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  175 

they  came  to  Knockainey ;  and  they  pitched  their 
tents  on  a  level  spot  near  its  summit.  Then  the 
chase  was  set  in  order  and  the  hunters  scattered 
themselves  over  the  broad  plains  of  Munster. 
They  hunted  over  Keen  Avrat  of  Sleive  Keen, 
and  over  Coil  Na  Drua;  and,  through  the  forest 
fastnesses  of  the  patrimony  of  Curoi  MacDara 
their  fleet  hounds  followed  the  deer.  By  the 
shores  of  Loch  Lein,  and  along  the  blue-waved 
Suir  full  many  a  quarry  fell  before  them;  and 
ever  with  keener  zest  they  fared  onward,  feast- 
ing and  singing  by  day;  resting  by  night  on 
fragrant  beds  of  fern  and  fir  until  they  crossed 
the  speckled  summit  of  Slieve-na-man. 

But  Finn,  after  a  short  chase  over  the  plains 
of  Cliach,  went  back  to  rest  on  the  hill  of 
Knockainey.  With  him  was  his  son  Oisin,  Gaul 
MacMorna  of  the  Mighty  Deeds,  Finn's  shield- 
bearer,  Skeabrac,  Conan  Mael  and  Ban  Mac 
Breasal.  The  sounds  of  the  hunt  came  back  to 
Finn  and  his  companions  on  the  hill  of  Knock- 
ainey, borne  across  the  broad  plains  of  Cliach; 
and  they  listened  with  pleasure  to  the  cheers  and 
shouts,  the  whistling  and  signaling  of  the  mighty 
heroes  and  to  the  cries  of  the  sharp-nosed 

Coil  na  Dnia  [Wood  of  the  Druids].  Curoi  Mac  Dara :  a  contempo- 
rary of  Cuchulain.  Slieve-na-man:  Mountain  of  the  woman. 
Conan  Mael  [Kaw  nawn '  Mwal]. 


176  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

dogs,  as  they  routed  the  deer  from  their  coverts 
and  the  badgers  from  their  burrows. 

Then  said  Finn  to  Ban  MacBreasal:  "Thou 
wast  ever  a  skillful  champion  and  a  shrewd;  un- 
wearied in  war  or  in  the  chase.  Go,  I  pray  thee, 
to  the  highest  point  of  this  hill  whose  summit 
shadows  us  and  from  there  note  narrowly  the 
progress  of  the  chase,  and  watch  for  the  safety 
of  the  hunters,  for  I  fear  the  Druidical  spells  of 
the  Dedannan." 

As  Ban  MacBreasal  stood  on  the  high  hilltop, 
grasping  his  broad  spears,  and  scanning  the  four 
points  of  the  sky,  he  saw  a  Fomor  of  great  size 
coming  toward  the  hill  leading  a  horse.  This 
Fomor  was  the  ugliest  looking  giant  Ban  Mac- 
Breasal had  ever  seen.  His  bloated  body  was 
supported  on  clumsy,  crooked  legs  and  broad, 
flat  feet  turned  inward.  His  face  was  covered 
with  bushy  hair  and  his  thick  lips  opened  over 
long,  crooked  teeth.  With  his  head  poked  for- 
ward, and  his  face  turned  up,  he  stared  straight 
at  Ban  MacBreasal.  A  broad  shield  of  a  sooty 
hue,  rough  and  battered,  hung  over  his  back. 
At  his  left  hip  was  a  long,  heavy,  straight  sword; 
and  in  his  left  hand  two  thick-handled,  broad- 
headed  spears,  old  and  rusty  as  if  they  had  not 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  DACKER  177 

been  used  for  years.  In  his  right  hand  he  held 
an  iron  club,  which  he  dragged  after  him  upon 
the  ground;  and  as  it  trailed  along  it  tore  up  a 
track  as  deep  as  the  furrow  a  farmer  plows  with 
a  yoke  of  oxen. 

The  giant's  horse  was  even  larger  in  propor- 
tion than  the  giant  himself,  and  every  bit  as 
ugly.  His  tangled,  scraggy  hair  was  of  a  dingy 
black;  and  his  ribs  and  all  the  points  of  his  big 
bones  could  be  counted  through  his  hide.  His 
legs  were  crooked  and  knotty,  his  neck  twisted; 
and  his  jaws  so  long  and  heavy  that  they  made 
his  head  look  twice  as  large  as  it  should  for  his 
body.  The  giant  held  him  by  a  strong  halter  and 
seemed  to  pull  him  forward  by  main  force. 
Every  now  and  then  the  lazy  beast  stood  still 
and,  when  he  did  so,  the  giant  struck  him  on  the 
ribs  with  his  iron  club ;  and  the  blow  sounded  as 
loud  as  the  thundering  of  a  great  billow  against 
the  rough  rocks  of  the  sea  coast. 

Ban  MacBreasal  was  not  a  man  to  be  easily 
frightened,  but,  when  he  saw  the  giant  and  his 
horse  coming  toward  him,  he  sprang  from  his 
seat  and,  snatching  up  his  arms,  ran  down  the 
hill  slope  with  his  utmost  speed  to  the  place 
where  he  had  left  the  king  and  his  companions. 


178  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

He  found  them  sitting  around  a  chess  board, 
deep  in  a  game.  When  they  saw  Ban  Mac- 
Breasal's  frightened  mien,  they  started  to  their 
feet  and,  looking  in  the  direction  that  he  pointed, 
they  saw  the  big  Fomor  leading  his  ungainly 
horse  slowly  up  the  hill.  They  gazed  in  silent 
wonder  until  at  last  he  approached  them;  and, 
bowing  his  head  and  bending  his  knee,  saluted 
the  king.  Finn  returned  his  salute  and  after 
giving  him  leave  to  speak,  asked  him  to  tell  his 
name  and  from  which  of  the  three  divisions  of 
the  world  he  had  come;  and,  whether  he  be- 
longed to  the  noble  or  the  ignoble  races.  The 
king  also  asked  what  was  his  profession  or  craft 
and  why  he  had  no  servant  to  attend  to  his  horse. 
"If  indeed,"  said  Finn,  "such  an  ugly  old  spectre 
of  an  animal  can  by  courtesy  be  called  a  horse." 
The  big  man  answered  him:  "O  King  of  the 
Feine,  whether  I  come  of  a  noble  or  an  ignoble 
race  I  cannot  tell,  for  I  know  not  who  were  my 
father  and  my  mother.  As  to  where  I  came 
from;  I  am  a  Fomor  of  Lochlann  in  the  north. 
I  have  no  particular  dwelling  place,  but  travel 
about  from  one  country  to  another,  serving  the 
great  lords  and  nobles  of  the  world ;  and,  receiv- 
ing wages  for  my  services.  I  have  often  heard, 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  179 

O  King,  of  your  greatness  and  royal  bounty, 
and  I  have  come  to  ask  you  to  take  me  into  your 
service  for  a  year.  You  wish  to  know  why  I 
have  no  servant  for  this  great  horse  of  mine? 
It  is  because  it  is  enough  to  provide  for  me  with- 
out having  also  to  feed  my  servant ;  for,  at  every 
meal  I  eat,  my  master  must  give  me  as  much  food 
and  drink  as  would  be  sufficient  for  an  hundred 
men.  My  name  is  the  Gilla  Backer,  and  it  is  not 
without  good  reason  that  I  am  so  called,  for  there 
never  was  a  lazier  or  worse  servant  than  I,  or 
one  who  grumbles  more  at  doing  a  day's  work 
for  his  master." 

"Well,"  said  Finn,  "I  fear  you  are  not  a  very 
pleasant  fellow,  but  as  I  have  never  refused  any 
man  service,  and  wages,  I  will  not  refuse  you." 
Whereupon  Finn  and  the  Gilla  Backer  made 
covenants  and  the  Gilla  Backer  was  taken  into 
service  for  one  year. 

"I  see  no  one  here  worthy  to  put  a  hand  to 
my  horse,"  said  the  Gilla  Backer  after  the  agree- 
ment between  Finn  and  himself  was  completed, 
"so  I  will  myself  place  him  among  your  horses 
for  pasture.  I  value  him  very  highly  and  it 
would  grieve  me  very  much  should  any  harm 
befall  him."  Then  turning  to  the  King,  he  said: 


180  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

"I  put  him  under  your  protection,  O  King,  and 
under  the  protection  of  all  the  Feine. 

Every  one  of  the  Feine  present  burst  out  laugh- 
ing to  hear  the  Gilla  Backer  thus  showing  con- 
cern for  his  miserable,  old  skeleton  of  a  horse. 
The  big  man,  however,  gave  no  heed  to  their 
merriment;  but,  taking  the  halter  off  his  horse's 
head,  turned  him  loose  in  the  pasture.  The 
wretched  looking  old  animal,  instead  of  begin- 
ning to  graze  as  every  one  thought  he  would, 
cocked  his  long,  hard,  switchy  tail  out  straight 
as  a  rod,  and  running  among  the  other  horses 
threw  up  his  hind  legs  and  kicked  about  on  this 
side  and  on  that.  He  tore  through  the  thickest 
of  the  herd,  butting  at  them  with  his  hard,  bony 
forehead;  and,  opening  his  lips  with  a  vicious 
grin,  snapped  at  the  Feine's  high  bred  horses  with 
his  sharp,  crooked  teeth;  nor  did  he  desist  until 
every  animal  in  the  herd  bore  some  mark  of  his 
injuries.  At  last  he  left  them  and  ran  toward  a 
small  field  where  Conan  Mael's  horses  were  graz- 
ing by  themselves.  Conan  seeing  this  shouted 
in  great  alarm  to  the  Gilla  Dacker  to  fetch  away 
his  horse,  and  not  let  him  work  any  more  mischief. 

"The  only  way  to  prevent  my  horse  from  join- 
ing the  others  is  to  put  the  halter  on  him  and 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  DACKER  181 

hold  him,"  said  the  Gilla  Backer.  "This  will 
keep  the  poor  beast  from  grazing  and  leave  him 
hungry  at  the  end  of  the  day;  but,"  said  he  to 
Conan,  "there  is  the  halter  and  if  you  are  in  any 
fear  for  your  animals,  go  yourself  and  fetch 
my  horse  from  the  field." 

Conan  was  in  a  mighty  rage  when  he  heard 
this ;  and,  just  as  the  big  horse  was  about  to  cross 
the  fence  into  the  small  field,  he  snatched  up  the 
halter  and  running  forward  with  long  strides 
threw  it  over  the  animal's  head  and  tried  to  lead 
him  back.  But  the  horse  refused  to  move.  His 
body  and  legs  became  as  stiff  as  if  they  were 
made  of  wood;  and,  though  Conan  pulled  and 
tugged  with  might  and  main,  he  was  not  able  to 
stir  the  beast  an  inch  from  his  place.  The  Gilla 
Backer  looked  on  in  a  perfectly  indifferent  man- 
ner, and  the  others  laughed  at  Conan's  perplex- 
ity, but  no  one  offered  to  relieve  him.  At  last 
Fergus,  the  poet,  said  "I  never  would  have  be- 
lieved, Conan  Mael,  that  you  could  be  brought 
to  do  horse  service  for  knight  or  noble,  in  all  the 
world.  But  now  indeed  I  see  you  have  made 
yourself  horse-boy  to  an  odious,  foreign  giant! 
Would  it  not  be  better  for  you,  if  indeed  you  must 
so  debase  yourself,  to  mount  the  old  horse,  and 


182  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

obtain  revenge  for  all  the  trouble  he  is  giving  by 
riding  him  across  the  country,  over  the  hill  tops 
and  down  into  the  deep  glens  and  valleys,  and 
through  stones  and  bogs  and  all  sorts  of  rough 
places,  until  you  have  broken  the  heart  in  his 
big,  ugly  body?" 

Conan,  stung  by  the  words  of  the  poet  and  the 
jeers  of  his  companions,  jumped  upon  the  horse's 
back  and  began  to  beat  him  mightily  with  his 
heels,  and  with  his  two  big,  heavy  fists.  But  the 
horse  seemed  not  to  take  the  least  notice,  and 
stood  as  if  he  had  been  turned  into  stone. 

"I  know  the  reason  he  does  not  go,"  said 
Fergus,  "he  has  been  accustomed  to  carry  a 
horseman  far  heavier  than  you,  that  is  to  say; 
the  Gilla  Backer,  and  he  will  not  move  until  he 
has  the  same  weight  on  his  back  as  heretofore." 
So  Conan  called  to  his  companions  and  asked 
which  of  them  would  mount  with  him,  and  help 
avenge  the  damage  done  to  their  horses. 

"I  will  go,"  said  Coil  Croda,  the  Battle 
Victor,  and  up  he  went;  but  the  horse  did  not 
move.  Dara  MacMorna  next  offered  to  go,  and 
mounted  behind  the  others;  and,  after  him  went 
Angus  MacMorna;  and  the  end  of  it  was  that 
fourteen  men  of  the  clans  Baskin  and  Morna 

Moma  [Morn 'yah]. 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  183 

got  on  the  horse's  sharp,  bony  back  and  each  one 
added  to  the  thrashing  begun  by  Conan  Mael. 
When  the  Gilla  Backer  saw  the  Feine  beating 
his  horse  at  such  a  rate  he  seemed  very  angry, 
and  addressed  the  King  in  these  words:  "I  now 
see  very  plainly  that  all  the  fine  accounts  which 
I  have  heard  of  you  and  the  Feine,  O  Finn  Mac- 
Cumal,  are  false  and  I  will  not  stay  in  your  serv- 
ice— no,  not  another  hour.  Judge  for  yourself 
whether  any  one  with  the  least  regard  for  his 
beast  would  allow  such  ill  usage  as  your  men  are 
giving  my  horse,  and  indeed  without  any  cause 
whatever.  Though  short  the  time  since  I  en- 
tered your  service,  I  consider  it  far  too  long;  so 
pay  me  my  wages  and  let  me  go  my  way." 

But  Finn  refused  to  pay  him  until  the  end  of 
the  year. 

"Well,  wages,  or  no  wages,  I  will  now  seek 
another  master,"  said  the  Gilla  Backer,  and  he 
stood  up  as  straight  as  a  pillar  and,  turning  his 
face  toward  the  southwest,  he  walked  slowly 
away. 

The  horse  immediately  followed  his  master 
taking  the  fifteen  men  away  on  his  back.  When 
the  Feine  saw  this  they  raised  a  loud  shout  of 
laughter,  mocking  them.  The  Gilla  Backer, 


184  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

after  he  had  walked  some  little  distance,  looked 
back  to  see  how  it  fared  with  his  horse.  Then 
he  tucked  up  his  skirts.  And  if  you  know  what 
the  speed  of  a  swallow  is  flying  across  a  moun- 
tain side;  or,  the  dry,  fairy  wind  of  a  March 
day  sweeping  over  the  plains,  you  can  imagine 
the  swiftness  of  the  Gilla  Dacker,  as  he  ran  down 
the  hillside  toward  the  southwest.  And  the 
horse,  although  he  carried  a  heavy  load,  galloped 
after  his  master,  plunging  and  bounding  for- 
ward as  if  he  had  nothing  at  all  on  his  back. 
The  men  now  tried  to  throw  themselves  off  but 
could  not,  for  they  found  that  they  were  firmly 
fastened  on  the  horse's  back.  Conan  looked  back 
and  shouted  to  Finn  and  the  Feine,  asking  them 
if  they  were  content  to  see  their  friends  carried 
off  by  sifch  a  horrible,  old,  spectre  of  an  animal. 

Finn  and  the  others  hearing  this  started  in 
pursuit  of  the  Gilla  Dacker;  and  away  they  all 
went  over  the  wide,  heathy  summit  of  Slieve 
Luachra;  and  from  there  to  Corca  Divna.  And 
they  ran  along  by  Slieve  Mish  until  they  reached 
Clogan  Kincat,  near  the  deep,  green  sea. 

It  was  not  until  the  horse  had  reached  the 
beach,  just  at  the  water's  edge,  that  Ligan 
Lumina,  who  had  kept  ahead  of  the  other  pur- 

Luachra  [Loch'ra].         Cloghan  [Clok  hawn']:  Causeway.         Cloghan 

Kincat:  Cat-head  stepping  stones. 
Ligan:  Jetsam;  goods  which  sink  when  cast  into  the  sea  and  remain 

under  water. 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  DACKER  185 

suers,  succeeded  in  catching  him  by  the  tail  with 
his  two  hands.  Ligan  pulled  with  all  his  might 
thinking  to  hold  the  horse  until  the  rest  of  the 
Feine  should  arrive.  But  his  pulling  was  of  no 
avail  for  the  horse  plunged  through  the  waves 
dragging  Ligan  after  him,  thus  making  it  im- 
possible for  him  to  either  help  his  friends  or  free 
himself,  as  his  hands  clung  fast  to  the  tail  of  the 
horse. 


186  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

CHAPTER     II. 

The  great  horse  continued  his  course  through 
the  sea,  fetching  the  sixteen  Feine  with  him,  and 
the  waters  retired  before  them  leaving  a  dry, 
firm  strand  under  them;  while  behind  them  fol- 
lowed close  a  wild,  raging,  sea,  which  seemed 
ready  at  any  moment  to  topple  over  their  heads. 

But  although  the  billows  were  tumbling  and 
roaring  all  around  them  neither  horse  nor  riders 
were  wet  by  so  much  as  a  drop  of  brine  or  a  dash 
of  spray.  Finn  and  the  others,  left  behind  on 
Knockainey,  watched  the  horse  and  men  until 
they  lost  sight  of  them  in  the  sea. 

After  a  long  silence  Finn  spoke  and  asked  the 
chiefs  what  they  thought  best  to  do.  But  they 
replied  that  he  far  excelled  them  in  all  knowledge 
and  wisdom;  and  they  told  him  they  would  fol- 
low whatever  counsel  he  and  Fergus,  the  poet, 
should  see  fit  to  give.  Then  Finn  told  Fergus 
to  speak  his  mind,  and  Fergus  said:  "My  counsel 
is  that  we  go  straightway  to  Ben  Edar,  where 
we  will  find  a  ship  waiting  ready  to  sail ;  for  our 
forefathers,  when  they  wrested  the  land  from 
the  Dedannans,  bound  them  by  covenant  to  main- 
tain this  ship  forever  fitted  with  all  things  need- 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  187 

fill  for  a  voyage.  They  were  to  do  this  in  return 
for  the  privileges  of  Ben  Edar ;  and  in  order  that 
if,  at  any  time,  one  of  the  noble  sons  of  Gael 
Glas  wished  to  sail  to  distant  lands  from  Eire, 
there  would  be  a  ship  lying  at  hand  in  the  har- 
bor ready  for  his  voyage. 

They  all  agreed  to  this  counsel,  and  without 
delay  turned  their  steps  northward  toward  Ben 
Edar.  They  had  not  gone  far  when  they  met 
two  youths  of  noble  mien,  fully  armed ;  and  wear- 
ing over  their  armor  beautiful  mantles  of  scarlet 
silk  fastened  with  brooches  of  gold.  After  the 
king  had  returned  their  salute  and  had  given 
them  leave  to  converse,  he  asked  who  they  were; 
whither  they  had  come;  and,  who  the  prince  or 
chief  was  that  they  served.  Then  the  elder 
answered:  "My  name  is  Feradach,  and  my 
brother's  name  is  Foltlebar;  and  we  are  the  two 
sons  of  the  king  of  Innia.  Each  of  us  professes 
an  art,  and  it  has  long  been  a  point  of  dispute 
between  us  which  art  is  the  better,  my  brother's 
or  mine.  We  have  heard  there  is  not  in  the  world 
a  wiser  man  than  thou,  O  King,  and  we  have 
come  to  ask  thee  to  take  us  into  thy  service, 
among  thy  household  troops  for  a  year;  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  to  give  judgment  between 

Innia:  India. 


188  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

us  in  the  matter."  Finn  then  asked  what  were 
the  two  arts  they  professed. 

"My  art,"  answered  Feradach,  "is  this:  If 
at  any  time  a  company  of  warriors  need  a  ship, 
give  me  only  my  joiner's  ax,  and  my  crann-tavall 
and  I  am  able  to  provide  it  without  delay.  All 
I  ask  them  to  do  is  this:  cover  their  heads  close 
and  keep  them  covered  while  I  give  the  crann- 
tavall  three  blows  of  my  ax.  Then  I  tell  them 
to  uncover  their  heads,  and  lo,  there  lies  the 
ship  in  the  harbor  ready  to  sail." 

Then  Foltlebar  spoke  and  said  he: 

"This,  O  King,  is  the  art  I  profess:  On  land 
I  can  track  the  wild  duck  over  nine  ridges  and 
nine  glens  and  never  lose  track  of  her  until  I 
drop  upon  her  in  her  nest;  and,  on  sea  my  skill 
is  to  follow  the  same,  if  only  I  have  a  good  ship 
and  crew." 

"You  are  the  very  men  I  want/'  said  Finn, 
and  he  told  them  the  story  of  the  Gilla  Dacker 
and  his  horse  from  beginning  to  end.  "And," 
he  added,  "we  are  now  on  our  way  to  Ben  Edar 
to  seek  a  ship,  so  that  we  may  follow  this  giant 
and  his  horse  and  rescue  our  companions." 

"I  will  get  you  a  ship  that  will  sail  as  swiftly 
as  a  swallow  can  fly,"  said  Feradach.  "And," 

Crann-tavall  [thowl]:  Wooden  fulcrum  for  the  oar  in  rowing. 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  189 

said  Foltlebar,  "I  will  guide  your  ship  in  the 
track  of  the  Gilla  Backer  until  you  shall  have 
laid  hands  on  him,  in  whatsoever  part  of  the 
world  he  may  seek  to  hide  himself."  Forthwith 
they  returned  to  the  beach  of  Cloghan  Kincat 
and  they  covered  their  heads  while  Feradach 
struck  three  blows  of  his  ax  on  the  crann-tavall. 
And  lo,  when  he  bade  them  look,  they  saw  a 
ship  fully  fitted  out  with  oars  and  sails,  and  with 
all  things  needful  for  a  long  voyage  riding  be- 
fore them  in  the  harbor.  Then  Kylta  MacRonan 
went  to  the  top  of  a  high  hill,  and  turning  his 
face  inland  gave  three  mighty  shouts,  which 
were  taken  up  by  the  people  of  the  next  valley, 
and  after  them  by  those  of  the  next  valley  be- 
yond. And  thus  was  the  signal  given  in  every 
glen  and  valley  and  on  every  plain  and  hillside 
of  the  two  provinces  of  Munster. 

When  the  Feine  heard  these  shouts,  they  ceased 
their  sports  for  they  knew  their  King  was  in 
danger.  And  they  formed  themselves  into  ranks, 
and  troops,  and  battalions  and  began  a  march 
toward  Cloghan  Kincat.  After  they  arrived, 
Finn  told  them  the  story  of  the  Gilla  Backer's 
flight  through  the  sea ;  and  he  picked  out  fifteen 
men:  the  bravest  and  best;  the  most  dexterous, 


190  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

and  the  swiftest  of  foot  among  the  Feine,  to  ac- 
company him  in  the  quest  for  their  friends  which 
he  was  about  to  undertake  in  the  ship  provided 
by  Feradach. 

Among  those  chosen  to  go  with  Finn,  the  chief 
men  were  Dyna,  of  the  Bright  Face;  Gaul  Mac- 
Morna;  Fergus,  the  Poet;  and,  Feradach  and 
Foltlebar.  Sad  indeed  was  the  leave-taking 
when  they  sailed  away ;  for  no  one  knew  how  far 
the  king  might  have  to  go  through  unknown 
seas,  or  what  spells  and  dangers  he  and  his  men 
might  have  to  encounter  in  this  pursuit. 

After  a  few  days  fair  sailing  on  the  cold, 
bright  sea,  a  great  storm  came  from  the  west 
and  the  black  waves  rose  up  against  them,  so 
that  they  had  much  ado  to  keep  their  vessel  from 
sinking.  But  through  the  roaring  of  the  tempest ; 
through  rain  and  blinding  spray,  Foltlebar,  their 
steersman,  never  stirred  from  the  helm,  or 
changed  his  course;  but  kept  close  on  the  track 
of  the  Gilla  Backer. 

At  length  the  storm  abated  and  the  sea  grew 
calm;  and  when  the  darkness  had  cleared  away 
the  ship's  crew  as  they  looked  off  to  the  west 
saw  not  far  away  a  vast,  rocky  cliff,  towering 
over  their  heads  to  such  a  height  that  its  top 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  191 

was  hidden  in  the  drifting  clouds  of  the  upper 
air.  It  rose  up  sheer  from  the  very  water;  and 
in  the  distance  appeared  to  be  as  smooth  as  glass. 
Foltlebar,  after  looking  to  the  four  points  of  the 
sky,  could  track  the  Gilla  Backer  as  far  as  the 
cliffs,  but  no  farther.  So  he  told  the  heroes 
that  he  thought  it  was  on  the  top  of  that  rock 
the  giant  lived,  and  that  in  some  way  or  other 
the  horse  must  have  made  its  way  up  the  face 
of  the  cliff  with  their  unfortunate  companions. 

The  words  of  Foltlebar  filled  the  heroes'  hearts 
with  sorrow  and  vexation,  for  they  saw  no  way 
of  reaching  the  top  of  the  rock,  and  feared  that 
they  would  have  to  give  up  the  quest  and  return 
to  Cloghan  Kincat. 

When  they  had  spent  some  time  In  silent 
thought,  Fergus,  the  poet,  arose  and  said:  "My 
friends,  we  have  here  among  us  one  who  in  his 
youth  was  taught  in  Fairyland  by  Mannanan 
Mac  Lir ;  and  by  Angus,  the  wisest  of  the  Dedan- 
nans.  All  that  a  warrior  should  learn,  and  much 
druidical  lore  beside  he  is  skilled  in,  and  there 
are  none  who  excel  him  in  manly  arts  and  cham- 
pion feats.  But  it  seems  that  these  accomplish- 
ments of  his  go  for  naught;  for,  now  when  we 
stand  most  in  need  of  them,  he  sits  idly  here  with 


192  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

us  in  our  ship  and  never  once  offers  to  make  an 
attempt  to  scale  the  face  of  the  cliff  and  bring  us 
tidings  of  our  lost  friends." 

When  Dyna,  of  the  Bright  Face,  heard  this 
speech  his  cheek  grew  red  with  shame.  "It  is  of 
me  you  speak  these  words,  Fergus,"  he  said, 
"and  your  reproaches  are  just." 

And  he  arose,  and  girded  on  his  armor,  and 
took  his  two  long,  deadly  spears,  the  Crann-boi 
and  the  Ga-derg,  one  in  each  hand;  and  the  bat- 
tle fury  of  a  warrior  descended  on  him,  so  that 
he  looked  a  dreadful  foe  to  meet  in  single  com- 
bat. Leaning  on  the  handles  of  his  spears,  he 
leaped  with  a  light,  airy  bound  on  to  the  nearest 
shelf  of  rock. 

Crann-boi  [bwSe] :  The  yellow  spear.         Ga-derg:  The  red  javelin. 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  DACKER  193 

CHAPTER   III. 

He  climbed  from  ledge  to  ledge  while  his  com- 
panions watched  him  eagerly  from  below.  After 
much  toil  he  measured  the  soles  of  his  two  feet 
on  the  green  sod  at  the  top  of  the  rock,  and 
when  he  turned  to  look  at  his  friends  in  the  ship 
far  below,  a  feeling  of  dizziness  and  dread  al- 
most overcame  him.  Looking  inland,  he  saw 
spread  out  before  him  a  lovely  plain,  bordered 
with  pleasant  hills;  and  shaded  with  groves  of 
many  kinds  of  trees. 

It  would  bring  happiness  to  the  heart  of  any 
mortal  to  behold  the  beauty  of  this  country,  and 
listen  to  the  warbling  of  the  birds,  the  humming 
of  the  bees  among  the  flowers,  the  rustling  of 
the  wind  through  the  trees  and  the  pleasant 
voices  of  the  streams  and  waterfalls. 

Dyna  set  out  to  walk  across  the  plain. 

He  had  not  gone  far,  when  he  saw  before  him 
a  mighty  tree  whose  high  branches,  laden  with 
fruit,  overtopped  all  the  other  trees  of  the  plain. 
This  tree  was  surrounded  at  a  little  distance  by 
a  circle  of  pillar  stones;  and,  one  stone  taller 
than  the  others  stood  in  the  center  near  the  tree. 
Beside  this  pillar  stone  was  a  spring  with  a  large, 


194  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

round  pool  as  clear  as  crystal ;  the  water  bubbled 
up  in  the  center  of  the  pool  and  flowed  away 
toward  the  middle  of  the  plain  in  a  slender 
stream. 

Dyna  was  glad  when  he  saw  the  well,  for  he 
was  hot  and  thirsty  after  climbing  the  cliff.  He 
stooped  down  to  drink ;  but,  before  his  lips  touched 
the  water  he  heard  the  heavy  tread  of  warriors, 
and  the  loud  clank  of  arms.  He  sprang  to  his 
feet  and  looked  around,  but  the  noise  had  ceased 
and  he  could  see  nothing  of  arms  or  warriors. 

He  stood  a  little  while  wondering  then  stooped 
again  to  drink;  and  again,  before  he  had  wet  his 
lips,  he  heard  the  very  same  sounds  nearer  and 
louder  than  before.  A  second  time  he  leaped  to 
his  feet  but  there  was  no  way  in  which  to  ac- 
count for  the  clank  of  arms,  or  the  sound  of  the 
tread  of  marching  champions,  which  he  had 
heard.  Astonished  and  perplexed,  he  stood  be- 
side the  well,  and  happening  to  look  at  the  tall 
pillar  stone  near  by  he  saw  on  its  top  a  large, 
beautiful,  drinking  horn,  chased  with  gold  and 
enameled  with  precious  stones. 

"Ah,"  thought  Dyna,  "it  is  no  doubt  one  of 
the  virtues  of  this  well  that  no  one  may  drink 
of  its  waters  except  from  the  drinking  horn.  So 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  195 

he  took  down  the  horn,  dipped  it  into  the  well, 
and  drank  without  hindrance  until  he  had  slaked 
his  thirst.  Scarcely  had  he  taken  the  horn  from 
his  lips,  when  he  saw  a  tall  grugach  com- 
ing toward  him  from  the  east.  The  grugach 
was  clad  in  a  complete  suit  of  mail  and  fully 
armed  with  shield  and  helmet;  sword  and  spear. 
A  beautiful  scarlet  mantle  hung  over  his  armor 
and  was  fastened  at  his  throat  by  a  golden 
brooch.  A  broad  land  of  gold,  bended  across  his 
forehead,  confined  his  yellow  hair  and  kept  it 
from  being  blown  about  by  the  wind. 

He  came  forward  with  long  strides  and  soon 
reached  the  well.  He  offered  no  greeting  nor 
courtesy  to  Dyna,  but  addressed  him  in  a  rough, 
angry  voice:  "O,  Dyna  of  the  Feine,  could  you 
not  have  drunk  your  fill  from  the  crystal  springs 
of  Eire?  Why  have  you  come  to  my  island  and 
without  my  leave  drank  from  my  drinking  horn 
the  waters  of  this  well  ?  Never  shall  you  leave  this 
spot  until  you  have  given  me  satisfaction  for  this 
insult!" 

So  spoke  the  grugach  and  advanced  on  Dyna 
with  fury  in  his  eyes.  But  there  did  not  live  a 
grugach  who  could  terrify  Dyna.  He  met  the 
foe  half  way  and  like  two  enraged  lions  they 

Grugach:  A  wizard.         Land:  A  crescent  of  gold  worn  on  the  head. 


196  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

fought  through  all  the  long  day,  until  the  gloam- 
ing; then  the  grugach  suddenly  sprang  outside 
the  range  of  Dyna's  sword  and  leaping  up  with 
a  great  bound  alighted  in  the  very  center  of  the 
well.  Down  he  went  and  disappeared  in  a  mo- 
ment from  the  sight  of  the  wondering  Dyna. 
Whether  the  hero  meant  to  drown  himself  or  to 
play  some  wizard  trick,  Dyna  knew  not.  He 
looked  once  more  into  the  crystal  waters  of  the 
well ;  all  was  as  serene  and  quiet  as  when  he  first 
beheld  them.  He  was  filled  with  amazement  and 
vexation  because  the  grugach  had  so  easily  es- 
caped from  him  and  as  he  seated  himself  on  the 
green  sward  to  think  it  over,  he  was  sorely 
chafed  to  think  that  he  had  not  the  least  token 
or  trophy  to  show  the  Feine  after  his  long  fight. 
Dyna  was  hungry  and  tired  after  the  toil  of 
the  day,  so  he  set  out  to  the  forest  near  by  to 
see  if  he  could  find  some  game  for  food.  And 
as  he  neared  the  forest  he  saw  a  herd  of  speckled 
deer  running  among  the  trees.  He  put  his  finger 
into  the  silken  loop  of  his  spear  and,  throwing  it 
with  unerring  cast,  brought  down  the  nearest  of 
the  herd.  He  lighted  a  fire  under  a  tree  and  hav- 
ing skinned  the  deer  he  fixed  it  on  long,  hazel 
spits  to  roast.  First,  however,  he  went  to  the 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  197 

well  and  fetched  away  the  drinking  horn  full 
of  water.  When  the  deer  was  cooked,  he  ate 
until  he  was  satisfied,  and  drank  a  refreshing 
draft  from  the  drinking  horn,  then  he  lay  down 
under  the  shelter  of  a  tree,  beside  the  fire  and 
slept  until  morning.  Then  he  went  again  to  the 
forest  and  slew  another  deer  for  his  breakfast, 
for  it  was  Dyna's  custom  never  to  eat  any  food 
which  had  been  left  from  a  former  meal. 

After  he  had  eaten  of  the  deer's  flesh  and 
drunk  from  the  horn  he  went  toward  the  well. 
But  the  grugach  was  there  before  him,  and  stood 
beside  the  pillar  stone  fully  armed  as  before,  and 
looking  more  wrathful  than  ever.  Dyna  was 
much  surprised,  but  before  he  had  time  to  speak 
the  grugach  thus  addressed  him:  "You  have 
now  put  the  cap  on  all  your  evil  deeds,  O,  Dyna 
of  the  Feine,  surely  there  are  hunting  grounds 
in  Eire  of  the  green  plains,  deep  forests  with 
plenty  of  deer  in  them,  and  you  need  not  have 
come  hither  to  rob  me  thus  and  kill  my  speckled 
deer.  And  now,  O  Dyna,  hear  me  say :  you  shall 
not  go  hence  until  I  have  taken  full  satisfaction 
for  all  the  injuries  wrought  me." 

Then  the  grugach  without  waiting  for  Dyna 
to  reply  attacked  him,  and  the  two  champions 


198  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

fought  until  the  dusk  began  to  fall.  Then  the 
grugach  again  leaped  into  the  well  and  disap- 
peared. 

On  the  third  day,  everything  was  repeated  as 
on  the  two  former  days,  and  on  the  fourth  morn- 
ing, Dyna  found  the  grugach  standing  as  usual 
by  the  pillar  stone  near  the  well;  and  his  looks 
were  fiercer  than  ever.  And  once  more  without 
exchanging  a  word  the  warriors  fought  until  the 
dusk  of  evening,  and  when  Dyna,  who  was 
watching  the  grugach  narrowly,  saw  him  about 
to  spring  into  the  well  as  he  had  done  each  even- 
ing before,  he  threw  his  arms  around  him  and 
held  him  in  a  mighty  grip.  The  grugach  tried 
to  free  himself  while  moving  all  the  time  nearer 
and  nearer  the  brink  of  the  well  until  finally  he 
plunged  in  and  down  they  went,  Dyna  and  the 
grugach,  clinging  to  each  other;  down,  deeper 
and  deeper,  where  nothing  could  be  seen  but 
darkness  and  shadows.  At,  length  there  was  a 
glimmer  of  light,  then  the  full  bright  day  burst 
suddenly  upon  them.  Presently,  without  feel- 
ing any  shock  whatever  they  found  them- 
selves standing  on  solid  ground.  But  that  mo- 
ment, the  grugach,  with  a  sudden  effort,  tore 
himself  from  Dyna's  grasp  and  ran  away,  leav- 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  199 

ing  Dyna  prone  upon  the  earth.  He  leaped  to 
his  feet  thinking  to  pursue  the  grugach,  but  the 
beauty  of  the  surrounding  scene  so  distracted 
his  thoughts  that  he  forgot  the  wizard-champion, 
giving  him  time  to  escape. 

Here  was  a  lovely  country,  with  green-sided 
hills,  and  fair  valleys  between;  groves  of  red 
yew  trees,  and  plains  laughing  all  over  with 
flowers  of  every  hue.  Not  far  off  was  a  city  of 
grand  tall  houses  with  glittering  roofs,  and  a 
magnificent  royal  palace.  On  the  level  green  in 
front  of  the  palace  were  a  number  of  knights, 
all  armed,  amusing  themselves  with  warlike  exer- 
cises of  sword  and  spear. 

It  was  toward  this  assemblage  that  the  gru- 
gach ran.  Dyna  looked  just  in  time  to  see  the 
knights  making  way  for  him  as  he  passed 
through  their  ranks  and  inside  of  the  palace  gate. 
Dyna  was  at  a  loss  to  know  what  to  do  next; 
he  seated  himself  to  rest  and  think;  and,  he  fell 
into  a  deep  sleep.  After  sleeping  for  some  time 
he  was  awakened  by  a  smart  blow.  He  opened 
his  eyes  and  saw  standing  over  him  a  tall,  young 
man,  with  a  comely  countenance  and  long  golden 
hair.  The  young  man,  finding  Dyna  asleep  in 
such  a  dangerous  place  had  struck  him  with  the 


200  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

flat  of  his  sword  to  awaken  him.  Dyna,  thinking 
him  a  foe,  seized  his  arms.  But  the  youth  bade 
him  put  them  up.  "I  am  no  enemy,  and  have  come 
not  to  harm  but  to  serve  you,"  said  he.  "Come 
with  me,  O  Dyna  of  the  Bright  Face,  and  I  will 
give  you  a  better  place  to  sleep,  and  kindly  enter- 
tainment." Dyna  thanked  the  young  man  and 
went  with  him.  After  walking  for  some  time  they 
came  to  a  splendid  house  which  they  entered.  In 
the  banqueting  hall  they  found  a  noble  company 
of  twelve  score  and  ten  knights,  and  almost  as 
many  beautiful  ladies  with  long,  lustrous  hair 
falling  over  their  shoulders;  and  eyes  as  blue  as 
the  ailestar  blossom.  They  wore  mantles  of 
scarlet  satin  fastened  with  brooches  of  bur- 
nished gold;  and  the  sweet,  wild  lilies  were  not 
more  gentle  and  modest  than  were  these  noble 
ladies  in  their  looks  and  conversation.  Both 
knights  and  ladies  sat  at  tables  lining  the  walls 
of  the  banquet  hall ;  some  feasting,  some  playing 
chess,  and  some  listening  to  the  music  of  harps. 

All  the  knights  and  ladies  arose  and  greeted 
the  heroes  when  they  entered,  and  invited  them 
to  join  in  the  festivities. 

But  the  golden  haired  prince,  for  such  he  was, 
told  them  that  first  Dyna  must  have  rest  and  re- 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  201 

freshment.  Then  he  ordered  the  attendants  to 
prepare  a  bath  for  him,  and  bring  him  rich  gar- 
ments so  that  he  should  be  clothed  like  the 
others. 

After  Dyna,  refreshed  and  cheerful,  had  joined 
the  company  once  more  he  partook  of  food  and 
drink  and  made  merry  with  his  hospitable 
friends.  Harpers  and  poets;  story  tellers  and 
professors  of  divers  arts  and  sciences  vied  with 
each  other  in  providing  entertainment  for  the 
guests.  Poetry,  song  and  sweetest  music;  tales 
of  the  heroes  of  olden  time;  and,  again  music 
sweeter  than  Dyna  had  ever  heard  stirred  the 
imagination  and  warmed  the  hearts  of  that 
bright  gathering.  And  to  each  and  every  poet, 
harper,  or  entertainer  of  whatever  kind  the 
knights  gave  gifts  of  gold,  and  silver,  and  jewels. 

After  the  feast  was  over,  Dyna  was  shown  to 
a  couch,  richly  ornamented  and  soft  with  the  red 
feathers  of  wild  fowl,  and  soon  he  fell  into  a 
sound  sleep.  The  next  morning,  when  the  com- 
pany had  again  assembled,  Dyna  said  to  the 
noble  youth  who  had  brought  him  thither:  "I 
am  much  surprised,  O  prince,  at  all  that  has  be- 
fallen me  in  this  strange  land.  Tell  me  I  pray 
you  what  country  is  this?  And  who  is  king 


202  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

thereof?  And  tell  me  also  the  name  of  the  cham- 
pion who  fought  with  me  four  days  at  the  well; 
and  who  at  last  escaped  from  me  through  the 
palace  gate?" 

"You  shall  be  told  everything;  so  listen,  O 
Dyna  of  the  Bright  Face.  This  country  is  Tir- 
fa-tonn.  The  hero  who  fought  with  you  is  called 
the  Knight  of  the  Fountain,  and  he  is  the  King 
of  Tir-fa-tonn.  I  am  the  king's  brother,  and  am 
called  the  Knight  of  Valour.  Good  reason  have 
I  to  be  kind  to  you,  Dyna,  for  I  once  spent  a  year 
and  a  day  in  the  household  of  Finn,  the  son  of 
Cumal.  A  part  of  this  kingdom  by  right  be- 
longs to  me,  but  the  king  and  his  son  have  seized 
on  my  patrimony  and  have  banished  me  from  the 
palace,  forcing  me  to  live  here  in  exile,  with  a 
few  of  my  followers.  I  have  here  in  my  house- 
hold seven  score  and  ten  heroes;  and,  if  you  will 
consent  to  aid  me  in  making  war  on  the  king  of 
Tir-fa-tonn  these  shall  be  placed  under  your 
command.  By  day  you  shall  fight,  by  night  you 
shall  feast  and  rest  in  the  palace." 

So  Dyna  and  the  Knight  of  Valour  made  a 
covenant,  and  placing  hand  in  hand  pledged 
themselves  to  be  faithful  friends. 

Tir-fa-tonn;  Country  under  the  waves. 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  DACKER  203 

CHAPTER  IV. 

It  was  now  many  days  since  Dyna  had  left 
his  companions  in  the  ship,  and  they  marvelled 
much  that  he  did  not  return  with  tidings  of  the 
Gilla  Backer.  At  length  they  determined  to  go 
in  search  of  him.  Feradach  and  Foltlebar  tied 
all  the  cables  and  ropes  they  could  find  in  the 
ship  together  in  hard,  sure  knots ;  and  when  this 
was  done  they  had  a  rope  long  enough  to  reach 
from  the  top  of  the  rock  to  the  bottom.  Then 
they  clambered  up  the  steep  face  of  the  cliff, 
fetching  with  them  the  end  of  the  rope,  and  one 
by  one  they  drew  up  Finn  and  the  rest. 

When  they  were  all  up,  Foltlebar  led  the  way 
across  the  plain.  And  it  chanced  that  they  met 
a  young  man  of  majestic  mien,  riding  a. beauti- 
ful chestnut  steed  with  a  bridle  of  twisted  gold, 
and  a  saddle  of  surpassing  splendor  glittering 
with  gold  and  jewels.  He  alighted;  and  putting 
his  hand  on  Finn's  neck,  kissed  his  cheek  three 
times  and:  "Welcome  art  thou,  O  Finn  of 
the  famous  deeds,"  said  he,  "to  this,  my  kingdom 
of  Sorca."  And  while  they  were  conversing,  a 
messenger  came  breathless  into  the  presence  of 
the  king,  and  bowing  low,  waited  impatiently  for 

Sorca  [Sur'cah]:  Scholars  do  not  agree  as  to  place  meant. 


204  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

leave  to  speak.  And  when  the  king  asked  him 
what  news  he  had  brought,  he  replied :  "Direful 
news  have  I,  O  king,  for  a  foreign  fleet  has  come 
to  our  shores,  a  fleet  so  great  that  until  the  stars 
of  heaven  and  the  sands  of  the  sea  are  counted 
the  hosts  that  are  landing  from  their  black  ships 
shall  not  be  numbered.  Already  they  are 
plundering  and  slaying  the  people  of  our  land." 

Finn,  when  he  heard  this,  without  waiting  to 
be  asked,  proffered  the  assistance  of  himself  and 
his  soldiers. 

The  King  of  Sorca  was  glad  of  heart  when  he 
heard  this  offer,  and  he  gathered  his  fighting 
men  together  and  after  many  days  of  dreadful 
warfare  the  foreigners  were  overcome  with 
disaster  and  set  their  sails  and  left  the  harbor  in 
the  night. 

When  the  soldiers  of  Sorca  and  the  Feinc 
arose  next  morning,  not  a  ship  was  in  sight.  And 
while  they  were  rejoicing  with  each  other  at  be- 
ing freed  from  invasion,  they  saw  at  a  distance, 
a  troop  of  chieftains  coming  toward  them,  with 
arms  and  banners,  ablaze  with  the  morning  sun- 
light 

As  they  drew  nearer,  Fergus,  the  poet,  recog- 
nized Dyna  Bainchre  at  the  head  of  the  troop, 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  205 

and  ran  forward  to  meet  him.  With  embraces 
and  shouts  of  joy  the  parted  friends  greeted  each 
other,  and  Dyna  related  all  of  his  adventures 
from  first  to  last.  ''And  now,"  continued  he, 
bringing  forth  the  Knight  of  Valour  from 
among  the  strange  host,  "this  is  he  who  was 
formerly  called  the  Knight  of  Valour,  but  who 
is  now  the  King  of  Tir-fa-tonn,  for  together 
have  we  fought  and  won  for  him  his  patrimony 
which  was  wrested  from  him  by  his  brother,  the 
unjust  and  cruel  Knight  of  the  Fountain."  The 
chieftains  in  silence  saluted  the  king  and  Dyna 
continued  telling  of  the  Knight  of  Valour :  "He 
has  given  us  tidings  of  the  Gilla  Dacker,  for  by 
means  of  his  druidical  art  he  has  found  out  that 
he  is  no  other  than  Avarta,  the  Dedannan,  who 
took  the  form  of  a  grugach  in  order  that  he 
might  bring  away  with  him  the  sixteen  Feine  to 
the  land  of  promise,  Tir-na-n-og,  and  he  now 
holds  them  in  bondage  there. 

Finn  and  the  young  king  then  made  covenants 
of  friendship  with  each  other,  and  after  they  had 
rested  a  few  days  in  the  palace  of  the  king  of 
Sorca,  they  set  out  again  on  their  quest  of  the 
Gilla  Dacker  with  the  skillful  Foltlebar  for  their 
helmsman. 


206  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

They  sailed  from  island  to  island  and  from 
bay  to  bay,  over  many  seas  and  by  many  shores, 
until  at  length  they  arrived  at  Tir-na-n-og 
where  in  his  youth  Dyna  of  the  Bright  Face  had 
been  nurtured  by  Mannanan  Mac  Lir  of  the  Yel- 
low Hair.  It  was  Finn's  intent  to  burn  and  spoil 
the  country,  to  avenge  the  outrage  that  had  been 
done  his  people,  but  Dyna  would  not  hear  of  this 
and  he  said:  "O  king,  it  is  not  well  for  us  to 
be  at  war  with  this  people,  for  none  are  more 
skilled  in  Druidic  art.  Let  us  send  a  trusty 
herald  to  Avarta,  that  he  may  demand  from  him 
the  liberty  of  our  companions;  if  he  grants  our 
request  we  shall  be  at  peace;  if  he  refuses;  then, 
shall  we  proclaim  war  and  waste  this  land  with 
fire  and  sword." 

This  advice  was  approved  by  all,  and  then 
Finn  said  "But  how  shall  heralds  reach  the 
dwelling  of  this  enchanter,  for  the  ways  are  not 
open  and  straight  as  in  other  lands ;  but,  crooked 
and  made  for  concealment,  and  the  valleys  and 
plains  are  dim  and  shadowy  and  hard  to  be 
traversed." 

But  Foltlebar,  nothing  daunted  by  the  dangers 
of  the  way,  offered  to  go  with  but  one  trusty 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  207 

companion,  and  Finn  chose  Gaul  Mae  Morna 
to  accompany  him. 

When  the  two  heralds  approached  the  man- 
sion of  Avarta  they  found  their  friends  amusing 
themselves  on  the  green  outside  the  palace  walls ; 
for  though  held  captive  they  were  treated  with 
great  kindness  by  Avarta.  When  they  saw  the 
heralds  coming  toward  them  their  joy  knew  no 
bound.  They  crowded  round  to  embrace  them 
and  ask  them  many  questions  about  home  and 
friends. 

And  while  they  were  greeting  each  other, 
Avarta  himself  came  forth  and  asked  who  the 
strangers  were.  Foltlebar  replied:  "We  are 
heralds  of  Finn,  the  son  of  Cumal,  and  we  are 
sent  by  him  to  demand  the  release  of  our  friends, 
held  in  bondage  by  thy  evil  spells.  At  first 
Avarta  made  no  reply,  but  he  called  a  council  of 
his  chief  men,  and  they  conferred  together  and, 
having  much  fear  of  the  Feine,  they  decided  to 
restore  Finn's  people,  and  allow  him  to  make  his 
own  award  in  satisfaction  for  the  injury  done 
him. 

Avarta  accompanied  the  heralds  and  they  re- 
turned to  Finn,  and  the  King  of  Tir-na-n-og 
delivered  his  own  message.  And  Finn  and 


208  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

Avarta  put  hand  in  hand  and  made  a  league  of 
friendship.  Then  Avarta  invited  the  heroes  of 
Eire  to  a  feast,  and  for  three  days  they  ate  and 
drank  and  made  merry.  On  the  fourth  day  a 
meeting  was  called  to  hear  the  award.  When  all 
were  gathered  together,  Finn  was  asked  to  name 
his  award,  and  this  is  what  he  said:  "I  shall  not 
name  an  award,  O  Avarta,  neither  shall  I  ac- 
cept an  eric  from  thee ;  but,  the  wages  I  promised 
thee,  when  we  made  our  covenant  at  Knock- 
ainey,  that  I  will  give  thee,  for  I  am  thankful 
for  the  welcome  thou  hast  given  us  here,  and  I 
wish  peace  and  friendship  between  us  for  ever- 
more." 

But  Conan  was  not  so  easily  satisfied,  and  lost 
no  time  in  saying:  "Little  hast  thou  endured, 
O  Finn,  and  thou  mayest  well  waive  thy  award; 
but,  hadst  thou,  like  us,  suffered  from  the  sharp 
bones  of  the  Gilla  Backer's  monstrous  horse  in 
a  long  journey  across  wide  seas,  through  tangled 
woods  and  over  rough  headed  rocks,  from  Eire 
to  Tir-na-n-og,  thou  wouldst,  methinks,  name 
an  award." 

Then  Avarta,  without  waiting  to  hear  more 
said  to  Conan :  "Name  thy  award  and  I  will  ful- 
fill it  every  jot,  for  I  have  heard  of  thee  Conan, 


PURSUIT  OF  THE  GILLA  BACKER  209 

and  I  fear  the  taunts  of  thy  mischievous 
tongue." 

"Very  well,  then,"  said  Conan,  "this  is  my 
award:  Fifteen  of  the  best  and  noblest  men 
in  your  Land  of  Promise  shall  mount  on  the  back 
of  the  big  horse  that  brought  me  and  my  com- 
panions thither,  and  you  yourself  shall,  take  hold 
of  his  tail  and  in  this  manner  you  shall  fare  back 
'to  Eire  over  the  self  same  track  by  which  we 
came;  through  the  same  thick,  thorny  woods  and 
over  the  same  islands  and  rough  rocks ;  and  this, 
O  Avarta,  is  my  award." 

Now  Finn  and  his  people  were  rejoiced  ex- 
ceedingly when  they  heard  Conan's  award,  for 
they  had  greatly  feared  that  he  might  ask  for 
treasures  of  gold  and  silver;  and  thus  bring  re- 
proach on  the  Feine.  Avarta  promised  that  every- 
thing required  by  Conan  should  be  done,  and 
then  the  heroes  took  their  leave.  And  they 
launched  their  ship  on  the  broad,  green  sea  and 
having  sailed  back  to  Eire,  marched  to  their 
camping  ground  at  Knockainy,  and  rested  in 
their  tents.  Avarta  then  chose  his  men  and  after 
they  had  mounted  on  the  horse's  back,  he  him- 
self caught  hold  of  the  tail  and  it  is  not  told  how 
they  fared  until  they  made  harbor  and  landing 
place  at  Cloghan  Kincat.  From  thence  they 


210  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

journeyed  straight  to  Knockainy.  Finn  and  his 
people  saw  them  coming,  the  Gilla  Dacker,  quite 
as  large  and  ugly  as  ever,  running  before  the 
horse,  for  he  had  let  go  of  the  tail  at  Cloghan 
Kincat. 

The  Feine  could  not  help  laughing  heartily 
when  they  saw  the  plight  of  the  fifteen  chiefs  on 
the  great  horse's  back;  and  they  said  with  one 
voice  that  Conan  had  made  a  fitting  award. 

When  the  horse  reached  the  spot  from  which 
he  had  at  first  set  out  the  men  began  to  dismount. 
Then  the  Gilla  Dacker  suddenly  stepped  for- 
ward, held  up  his  arm  and  pointed  earnestly  over 
the  heads  of  the  Feine  towards  the  field  where 
their  horses  were  grazing.  This  startled  the 
heroes  and  they  turned  round,  every  man,  to 
look.  But  nothing  could  they  see,  but  the  horses 
grazing  quietly  inside  the  fence. 

And  when  they  turned  back  again,  intent  on 
speaking  to  the  Gilla  Dacker  and  his  men,  they 
were  much  astonished  to  find  them  all  gone! 

The  Gilla  Dacker  and  his  spectral  horse  and 
the  fifteen  nobles  from  the  Land  of  Promise  had 
disappeared  in  an  instant;  and  neither  Finn  nor 
any  of  his  chiefs  ever  saw  them  afterwards. 

And  thus  ends  the  story  of  the  pursuit  of  the 
Gilla  Dacker  and  his  horse. 


The  Fairy  Palace  of  the 
Quicken  Trees 


EYOND   the  border  of  the  northern 
sea,  in  his  beautiful  palace  of  Berva, 
dwelt   Colga   of   the   Hard  Weapons, 
grandson  of  Mighty  Balor  and  king 
of  the  warlike  Lochlanns. 

Glorious  and  powerful  was  Colga  yet  some- 
what there  was  to  trouble  him,  and  amidst  all 
the  splendors  of  the  palace  he  sat  with  bowed 
head,  pondering  a  way  of  relief.  And  he  called 
a  meeting  of  his  chief  people  on  the  broad  green 
plain  before  the  palace.  Wearing  his  lonar 
braided  with,  precious  stones  and  carrying  his 
two  bright  bronze-handled  spears  in  his  hand  he 
went  forth  to  meet  the  people  when  they  had 
gathered  together.  Then,  from  his  high  throne, 
he  spoke  to  them  and  his  voice  rang  clear  in  the 
ears  of  the  most  distant:  "My  people,"  said  he, 
"have  I  been  to  you  an  unjust  ruler,  or  have  you 

Bruighean  Caorthainn  [Breen  Car'hyenn]:   Gaelic  for   Palace  of  the 
Quicken   Trees.         Quicken   Tree:   The    mountain   ash.  lonar ; 

Military  cloak. 

211 


212  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

found  any  cause  for  complaint  against  me,  your 
sovereign  lord  and  king?"  As  with  one  voice 
they  answered:  "O  king,  mighty  and  just, 
Wielder  of  the  Hard  Weapons,  thy  people  find 
no  fault  with  thee,  command  us  and  we  obey." 

Then  spoke  King  Colga :  "Know  you  not  that 
I  am  called  king  of  the  tribes  of  Lochlann  and 
of  the  islands  of  the  sea?  Yet  there  is  one  island 
which  acknowledges  not  my  rule." 

And  the  people,  not  knowing  this,  asked  which 
island. 

"It  is  Eire,  the  island  of  the  green  hills.  My 
forefathers  held  sway  over  it,  and  many  of  our 
brave  warriors  died  there  in  battle.  There  fell 
Balor  of  the  Mighty  Blows  and  Kethlenda,  his 
queen.  There  too  fell  Iran  and  Slana  sisters  of 
the  king  and  many  others.  Our  hosts  indeed 
once  held  this  land  under  tribute ;  but  the  men  of 
Eire  arose  and  drove  them  into  the  sea,  which 
even  yet  is  red  with  their  blood,  and  Eire  no 
longer  owns  the  sway  of  the  Lochlann  king. 
Once  again,  O  men  of  Lochlann,  we  must  subdue 
that  island  and  hold  it  subject  as  long  as  the 
ends  of  the  rushes  are  brown." 

"Wise  art  thou,  O  King,"  said  the  chiefs  of 


FAIRY    PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  213 

Lochlann  "and  the  council  is  worthy  of  our  ac- 
ceptance." 

Then,  swift  scouts  and  couriers  and  estafets 
mustered  the  king's  fighting  men,  and  they  made 
ready  their  white-sailed,  curve-sided  ships;  and 
chasing  the  white  sea  horses  through  the  billowy 
brine,  made  neither  stop  nor  stay  until  they  had 
landed  on  the  shores  of  Ulad. 

Now  this  was  three  hundred  three  and  thirty 
years  after  the  death  of  the  King  of  Israel  on 
Calvary;  and,  at  this  time  Cormac  son  of  Art, 
son  of  Conn  the  Hundred  Fighter,  was  king  of 
Eire,  and  held  his  court  at  Teamhair-na-Righ. 

When  Cormac  heard  that  a  foreign  fleet  had 
landed  on  the  shores  of  his  far  north  province 
of  Ulad,  he  sent  messengers  with  tidings  of  the 
invasion  to  Alvin  of  the  green  hill  slopes  where 
lived  Finn  the  head  chieftain  of  the  four  clans  of 
the  Feine,  the  brave  and  ever  ready  defenders  of 
the  island  of  Eire. 

Then  Finn  sent  word  to  every  part  of  Eire 
where  the  Feine  dwelt  and  bade  them  meet  him  at 
a  certain  place  near  the  coast  where  the  Loch- 
lann army  were  encamped.  When  the  forces  of 
Finn  had  met  together  without  delay  they  at- 
tacked the  foreigners,  and  fiercely  the  foreigners 

Teamhair-na-Righ  [Tow'-er-na-Ree'j:  Tara  of  the  Kings.        Ulad  Ool' 
lah] :  Ulster. 


214  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

met  the  onset.  Now  it  seemed  that  victory  was 
for  the  fearless  Lochlanns ;  and  now  the  shouts  of 
the  sons  of  Eire  rose  triumphant  above  the  din 
of  clashing  spears.  At  last,  Oscar,  son  of  Oisin, 
meeting  king  Colga  closed  in  deadly  conflict 
hand  to  hand  with  him.  Soon,  his  bright  shield 
rent,  his  helmet  dinted  with  sword  blows,  the 
blood  from  his  deep  wounds  welling  forth  from 
beneath  his  pierced  armor,  fell  Colga  of  the 
Hard  Weapons,  slain  by  Oscar,  son  of  Oisin. 

At  sunset  there  remained  not  one  of  the 
mighty  men  of  Lochlann,  except  king  Colga's 
youngest  son,  Midac.  Finn,  returning  to  Allen, 
brought  Midac  with  him,  and  gave  him  a  high 
post  as  befitted  a  prince.  While  Midac  was 
growing  to  manhood,  he  hunted  and  feasted 
with  the  Feine;  and  fought  with  them  when  they 
fought,  and  all  the  while  he  made  himself  ac- 
quainted with  their  haunts,  and  hunting 
grounds,  their  palaces  and  fortresses ;  and  in  par- 
ticular with  their  manner  of  carrying  on  war. 

And  it  happened  one  day  in  a  council  of  the 
Feine,  that  Conan  Mael  the  son  of  Morna  stood 
up  and  said :  "O  king,  have  you  not  noticed  that 
the  young  prince  Midac  is  silent  and  distant  and 

Midac  [Mee'ach]. 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  215 

that  he  takes  much  pains  to  acquaint  himself 
with  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  Feine?" 

"What  you  say,  O  son  of  Morna,  is  true,"  an- 
swered the  king,  and  then  he  asked  Conan  to 
give  his  opinions  as  to  what  should  be  done. 

Said  Conan:  "I  advise  that  the  Prince  Midac 
be  given  lands  and  a  household  of  his  own,  apart 
from  the  palace  of  Allen,  where  he  can  no  longer 
listen  to  our  councils  and  learn  our  secrets  and 
our  plans." 

Then  the  king  sent  for  the  prince  and  said  to 
him:  "Thou  knowest,  Midac,  thou  hast  always 
been  dealt  with  as  becomes  a  prince.  It  is  not 
meet  that  thou  shouldst  abide  longer  in  the  house 
of  another,  choose  therefore  the  two  cantreds  in 
all  Eire  that  please  thee  best,  and  they  shall  be 
given  to  thee  and  thy  descendants  forever  as  a 
patrimony."  So  Midac  chose  the  rich  cantred 
of  Kenri  on  the  Shannon ;  and  the  cantred  of  the 
island  lying  next  to  it  on  the  north,  at  the  other 
side  of  the  river.  Midac  had  good  reason  for 
choosing  these  two  cantreds,  for  the  river  opens 
out  between  them  like  a  great  sea,  and  in  the 
sheltered  harbors  ships  could  anchor  in  safety, 
and  he  hoped  some  day  to  bring  a  fleet  and  an 
army  into  Eire  to  avenge  on  Finn  and  the  Feine 


216  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

the  defeat  and  death  of  his  father  and  his  coun- 
trymen. For  fourteen  years  Midac  lived  in  his 
new  home,  and  there  was  no  Brugaid  in  Eire 
richer  or  more  prosperous  than  he.  One  day 
Finn  and  the  Feine  went  to  hunt  in  the  district 
of  Fermorc,  and  over  the  plain  of  Hy  Conall 
Gavra.  And  when  the  chase  was  about  to  begin, 
Finn  and  a  few  of  his  companions  went  to  the 
top  of  the  hill  of  Knockfierna  to  see  the  sport. 
There  they  pitched  their  tents  and  made  soft 
couches  of  rushes  and  heather,  and  dug  cooking 
places ;  for  they  intended  the  hill  to  be  a  resting 
place  for  the  hunters.  They  had  not  been  there 
long  before  they  saw  a  tall  warrior  coming 
toward  them.  He  wore  a  splendid  coat  of  mail 
of  Lochlann  workmanship,  and  over  it  a  mantle 
of  fine  satin,  dyed  in  divers  colors.  A  broad 
shield  hung  on  his  left  shoulder;  and,  in  the 
morning  sun,  his  helmet  glittered  like  polished 
silver.  A  long  sword,  with  golden  hilt  and  en- 
amelled sheath,  hung  at  his  left  side,  and  he 
held  in  his  right  hand  his  two  sharp,  death-deal- 
ing spears. 

Wonderfully  majestic  was  his  bearing;  and 
as  he  approached  he  saluted  the  king  in  digni- 
fied and  courteous  words.  To  Finn's  inquiry  as 

Brugaid  [Broo'a]:  A  farmer  or  husbandman. 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN    TREES  217 

to  whence  he  came,  and  what  tidings  he  brought 
he  replied:  "Of  the  place  from  which  I  have 
come  nothing  need  be  spoken;  and  no  tidings 
have  I  except  that  I  am  a  Ferdana,  and  I  have 
brought  thee  a  poem,  O  King  of  the  Feine." 

"A  mountain  top  is  not  the  place  for  poetry." 
said  Finn.  "Remain  here  with  us  until  the  chase 
is  ended,  then  you  shall  come  with  me  to  one  of 
our  palaces,  and  there  I  will  listen  to  your  poem 
and  bestow  on  you  befitting  gifts/' 

But  the  unknown  Ferdana  answered:  "To 
go  to  your  palace  is  not  my  wish ;  and  I  now  put 
you  under  geasa,  which  will  compel  you  to  listen 
to  my  poem  and  explain  its  meaning." 

So  Finn  was  compelled  to  listen  while  the 
Ferdana  sang: 

"I  saw  a  house  by  a  river's  shore, 
Famed  through  Eire  in  days  of  yore ; 
Its  Lord  deep  skilled  in  fairy  lore. 
No  spoiler  can  rive  its  golden  store ; 
Safe  it  stands  when  the  torrents  pour. 
Feasting  and  joy  for  evermore 
To  all  who  enter  its  open  door." 

"I  can  explain  that  poem!"  said  Finn,  "the 
house  by  the  river's  shore  is  the  palace  of  Bruga, 
where  dwells  Angus,  a  man  more  skilled  in 
magic  arts  than  any  in  Eire." 

Bruga  [Broo '  ah]. 


218  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

"Thou  hast  divined  my  meaning;"  said  the 
stranger,  "canst  thou  also  explain  this  rann?" 

"I  saw  to  the  south  a  bright  faced  queen, 

With  couch  of  crystal  and  robe  of  green ; 
Slowly  she  moves ;  and  yet  her  speed 
Exceeds  the  pace  of  the  swiftest  steed." 

"The  queen  you  speak  of  is  the  river  Boyne, 
which  flows  by  the  southern  wall  of  the  palace 
of  Bruga.  Her  couch  of  crystal  is  the  river's 
sandy  bed;  her  robe  of  green,  the  grassy  plain 
through  which  it  flows.  The  river  indeed  flows 
slowly,  but  its  waters  traverse  the  whole  world 
in  seven  years,  and  that  is  more  than  the  swiftest 
steed  can  do." 

"Truly  hast  thou  spoken,"  said  the  Ferdana 
grasping  more  tightly  his  polished  spears. 

And  then  Finn  besought  him  to  tell  who  he 
was,  and  whence  he  came;  but  Conan  Mael 
spoke  saying:  "Wise  art  thou,  O  Finn,  and 
thou  hast  unravelled  the  mystical  ranns;  yet,  in 
this  has  thy  wisdom  failed  thee;  thou  hast  not 
distinguished  between  friend  and  foe,  for  this 
Ferdana  is  Midac,  whom  thou  didst  bring  up  with 
much  honor  in  thy  own  house;  but  who  is  now 
thy  enemy.  Long  has  he  enjoyed  the  patrimony 
with  which  thou  didst  endow  him,  and  though 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  219 

he  is  one  of  the  Feine,  never  has  he  offered  the 
hospitality  of  his  palace  to  thee  or  them." 

Said  Midac :  "My  house  has  never  been  with- 
out a  banquet  fit  for  either  king  or  chief;  and, 
an  invitation  you  did  not  need,  for  I  was 
one  of  you :  But  let  that  pass ;  this  night  a  feast 
will  be  ready  and  I  put  you  under  geasa  to  come 
and  partake  of  it.  Remember,  tonight  Midac, 
the  prince,  awaits  Finn  and  his  Feine  soldiers  in 
the  Palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees." 

"And  having  pointed  out  the  way,  the  Fer- 
dana  turned  to  go  saying  he  must  hasten  to  have 
all  things  in  readiness  when  they  should  arrive." 

Finn  held  council  with  his  companions,  and  it 
was  agreed  that  the  king's  son  Oisin  and  five 
other  chiefs  with  their  followers  should  tarry  on 
the  hill  until  the  hunting  party  returned,  while 
Finn  and  the  remaining  chieftains  went  to .  the 
Palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees.  And  it  was  also 
arranged  that  Finn  should  send  back  word  as  soon 
as  possible  after  his  arrival  telling  how  he  fared. 
It  was  also  arranged  that  after  the  hunting 
party  returned  Oisin  and  his  companions  were 
to  go  likewise  to  partake  of  Midac's  hospitality. 

As  Finn  and  his  party  neared  the  palace  they 
marveled  greatly  at  its  size  and  splendor;  and 


220  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

they  wondered  that  they  had  never  seen  it  be- 
fore. It  stood  on  a  green  plain  surrounded  by 
many  quicken  trees,  on  which  hung  thick 
clusters  of  scarlet  berries.  A  broad  river  flowed 
through  the  green  plain  and  its  bank  nearest  the 
palace  was  rocky  and  high,  and  a  steep  pathway 
led  down  to  a  ford. 

Everything  was  silent  and  lonely,  and  to  their 
surprise  no  one  came  to  greet  them.  Finn,  fear- 
ing foul  play,  would  have  turned  back  had  he  not 
bethought  him  of  his  geasa  and  his  promise. 
The  great  door  of  the  palace  was  wide  open,  but 
when  they  entered  they  found  no  one — neither 
host  nor  guests  nor  attendants.  Never  had  they 
seen  a  banquet  hall  more  splendid.  A  huge  fire, 
burning  brightly  in  the  middle  of  the  hall,  gave 
forth  no  smoke,  but  a  sweet  perfume  which  re- 
freshed and  delighted  the  heroes.  Everywhere 
were  couches  covered  with  rugs  and  soft,  glossy 
furs.  The  curved  walls  were  of  wood:  close 
jointed  and  polished  like  ivory.  Each  board  was 
painted  differently  from  those  above  and  below, 
so  that  the  sides  of  the  room  from  the  floor  to 
roof  were  all  radiant  with  color.  Without  wait- 
ing longer,  the  chieftains  seated  themselves  on 

The  houses  of  the  ancient  Gaels  were  of  wood. 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  221 

the  couches  and  rugs  to  await  the  coming  of 
their  host. 

Presently  a  door  opened  and  Midac  entered. 
He  looked  at  the  heroes  one  after  another,  but 
spoke  not  one  word,  only  turned  quickly  and 
went  out,  shutting  the  great  door  behind  him. 

Finn  and  his  friends  were  unable  at  first  to 
speak  for  wonder  at  this  strange  proceeding ;  and 
they  remained  sitting  in  silence  until  Finn,  when 
he  had  somewhat  recovered  from  his  surprise, 
said:  "My  friends,  I  know  you  are  no  less  sur- 
prised than  I  at  the  manner  of  our  reception :  our 
host  speaks  us  no  word  of  welcome;  and,  al- 
though we  were  invited  to  a  feast,  there  is  none 
prepared  for  us." 

"But  is  not  this  still  more  a  cause  for  wonder  ?" 
said  Gaul  MacMorna,  "the  fire,  which  was  clear 
and  smokeless  when  we  first  saw  it  and  which 
smelled  more  sweetly  than  the  flowers  of  the 
plain,  now  fills  the  hall  with  an  offensive  odor, 
and  sends  up  clouds  of  black,  sooty  smoke." 

"And  more  wonderful  even,"  said  Dathkin, 
the  strong-limbed,  "the  boards  in  the  walls  of 
this  banquet  hall  which  were  smooth  and  close 
jointed,  and  glorious  all  over  with  bright 
colors,  when  we  came,  are  now  nothing  but 

Dathkin  [Da 'kin]. 


222  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

rough  planks,  clumsily  fastened  together  with 
quicken  tree  withes,  and  as  rude  and  unshapen 
as  if  they  had  been  hacked  and  hewed  with  a 
blunt  axe. 

"And  behold,"  said  Foilan,  the  son  of  Aed  the 
Lesser,  "instead  of  the  seven  great  doors  of  the 
palace  wide  open  and  looking  pleasantly  to  the 
sunshine,  as  they  were  on  our  arrival,  I  see  now 
only  one  small,  narrow  door;  close  fastened  and 
facing  straight  to  the  north." 

"Most  wonderful  of  all,"  said  Conan  Mael, 
"the  rich  rugs,  and  furs,  and  couches  which 
were  under  us  when  first  we  seated  ourselves, 
are  all  gone!  Not  a  fragment  remains,  and  we 
are  now  sitting  on  the  bare,  damp  earth;  and  it 
feels  as  cold  as  the  snow  of  one  night !" 

Then  Finn  spoke  again:  "You  know,  my 
friends,  that  I  never  tarry  in  a  house  having  only 
one  door.  Let  one  of  you  then  arise,  and  break 
open  that  narrow  door,  that  we  may  go  forth 
from  this  foul  smoky  den." 

"That,  shall  I  do,"  cried  Conan;  and,  so  say- 
ing, he  seized  his  long  spear  and  planting  it  in 
the  floor,  point  downward,  he  attempted  to 
spring  to  his  feet,  but  was  unable  to  move. 
"Alas,  my  friends,"  cried  he  with  a  groan  of 

Foilan  [Fwee'lan].        Aed  [A]. 


FAIRY   PALACE  OF  QUICKEN  TREES  223 

anguish,  "this  is  most  wonderful  of  all;  I  am 
firmly  fixed  by  some  druidical  spell  to  the  cold 
clay  floor  of  the  Palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees." 

And  all  the  others,  likewise,  found  it  impos- 
sible to  move  from  the  place  where  they  sat. 
When  Gaul  had  sufficiently  recovered  from  sur- 
prise to  speak,  he  said:  "It  seems  clear,  O 
king,  that  Midac  has  planned  this  treachery,  and 
that  great  danger  lies  before  us.  I  beseech  you, 
place  your  thumb  under  your  tooth  of  knowledge 
and  let  us  know  the  truth  so  that  we  may  hasten 
to  consider  how  best  to  escape." 

•Whereupon  Finn  placed  his  thumb  under  his 
tooth  of  knowledge  and  mused  for  a  little  while. 
Then  suddenly  withdrawing  his  thumb,  he  sank 
back  in  his  seat  and  groaned  aloud. 

"May  it  be  the  will  of  the  gods,"  said  Gaul, 
"that  it  is  the  pain  of  thy  thumb  that  has  caused 
thee  to  utter  that  groan." 

"Alas,  not  so,"  replied  Finn,  "I  fear  that  my 
death  is  near;  and  the  death  of  my  dear  com- 
panions. There  is  now  no  hope  for  our  escape 
from  Midac's  treacherous  snare;  for  in  the 
palace  of  the  island,  there  is  at  this  moment  an 
army  of  foreigners,  brought  thither  by  Midac 
for  our  destruction.  Sinsar  of  the  battles,  with 

Sinsar  [Shin'shar];  The  Elder. 


224  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

sixteen  warlike  princes  under  his  command,  has 
come  from  Greece.  His  son,  Borba  the 
Haughty,  has  come  also  commanding  a  band  of 
fierce  and  haughty  knights.  The  three  kings  of 
the  Island  of  the  Torrent  are  already  on  their 
way,  furious  as  dragons.  It  is  they  who  by 
their  sorcery  have  enabled  Midac  to  prevent  our 
leaving  the  palace;  for  this  cold  clay  we  sit  on  is 
a  part  of  the  soil  of  the  enchanted  island  of  the 
Torrent.  It  was  brought  by  Midac  to  his  palace 
and  placed  here  with  fearful  spells.  Never  can 
our  enchantment  be  broken,  unless  the  blood  of 
those  kings  be  first  sprinkled  on  the  clay.  When 
they  heard  these  tidings,  some  of  the  heroes  shed 
bitter  tears  in  silence;  and  others  lamented 
aloud. 

But  Finn  again  spoke,  and  said  he:  "It  be- 
comes us  not,  my  friends,  to  weep  and  wail  like 
women,  even  though  we  are  in  danger  of  death. 
Let  us  rather  sound  the  Dord  Fian,  sweetly  and 
plaintively  as  we  are  wont  to  do,  that  it  may  be 
a  comfort  to  us  before  we  die." 

So  the  fated  warriors  sang:  And  while  they 
were  singing,  Ficna,  the  son  of  Finn,  and  Isna. 
the  son  of  Svena  Selga,  came  from  the  hill  of 
Knockfierna  for,  as  Finn  had  sent  no  messengers 

Borba  [Bur 'bah]:  Fierce.         Dord:  Bass  in  music;  Dord  Fian:  War 
chant  of  the  Feine. 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF  QUICKEN   TREES  225 

to  the  Feine,  whom  he  had  left  behind  him  on  the 
hill,  they  feared  some  evil  had  befallen  him  and 
his  companions.  They  waited  until  nightfall  and 
then  set  out  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  affairs. 
When  they  neared  the  Palace  of  the  Quicken 
Trees,  night  had  darkened  around  them,  and  al- 
though they  could  not  see  the  palace  they  heard 
the  Feine  within  singing  the  loud,  slow  strains  of 
the  Dord-Fian. 

"Things  go  well  with  our  friends,"  said  Isna 
joyfully. 

'But  Ficna  replied:  "Alas,  I  cannot  think  so, 
for  it  is  only  in  time  of  trouble  or  danger  that 
Finn  is  wont  to  have  the  Dord-Fian  sounded,  in 
a  manner  so  slow  and  sad." 

When  the  song  was  ended,  Finn  noticed  the 
low  hum  of  conversation  outside,  and  recogniz- 
ing the  voice  of  Ficna  he  said  to  him:  "Come 
not  nearer,  my  son,  for  this  place  abounds  in 
dangerous  spells,  and  here  Midac  holds  us  fast 
in  the  sorcery  of  the  kings  of  the  island  of  the 
Torrent." 

But  both  Ficna  and  Isna  said  that  never  would 
they  return  to  safety  leaving  their  much  loved 
chieftain  in  deadly  danger. 

Then  said  Finn:     "In  yonder  palace  of  the 


226  GAELIC   FOLK   TALES 

island  are  gathered  mighty  hosts  of  foreigners, 
plotting  our  destruction;  but,  to  come  thither 
they  must  needs  pass  the  ford  under  the  shadow 
of  these  walls.  The  ford  is  rugged  and  hard  to 
cross,  and  one  good  man  standing  in  the  steep, 
narrow  entrance  at  the  hither  side  might  dispute 
the  passage  for  a  time  against  many.  Go  now 
and  defend  this  ford,  and  haply  help  may  come 
in  time." 

Then  Ficna  and  Isna  departed  rejoicing  to 
think  that  they  might  perhaps  be  of  assist- 
ance to  the  brave  but  stricken  chieftains  who 
were  imprisoned  in  the  enchanted  palace.  And 
they  agreed  between  them  that  Isna  should 
guard  the  ford  alone,  while  Ficna  set  out 
straightway  for  the  palace  of  the  island. 

Here,  all  the  day,  had  Midac  and  the  foreign- 
ers feasted  and  drank;  and  were  merry  in  the 
thought  that  Finn  and  his  people  were  securely 
bound,  in  the  charmed  durance  of  the  palace  of 
the  Quicken  Trees.  And  at  eventide  spoke  an 
Irla  of  Sinsar  of  the  Battles,  and  said:  "I  will 
now  go  to  the  palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees  and 
bring  hither  the  head  of  Finn,  son  of  Cumal; 
and  I  shall  gain  thereby  much  renown  and  be 
honored  by  Sinsar  of  the  Battles." 

Irla  [Earl]:  Scandinavian  word. 


FAIRY    PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  227 

So  he  went  taking  with  him  a  goodly  number 
of  his  own  knights.  When  they  reached  the 
ford  near  the  palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees,  the 
Irla,  looking  through  the  darkness,  thought  he 
saw  a  warrior  standing  at  the  other  brink  and 
he  called  aloud  to  ask  who  was  there,  and 
whether  he  belonged  to  the  noble  or  the  ignoble 
races  of  the  world.  And  Insa  answered  that  he 
belonged  to  the  household  of  Finn,  the  son  of 
Cumal. 

"Lo,"  said  the  Irla,  "we  are  going  to  the  Palace 
of  the  Quicken  Trees  to  bring  Finn's  head  to 
Sinsar  of  the  battles,  and  thou  shalt  come  with 
us  and  lead  us  to  the  door." 

"O  champion  of  Sinsar,"  answered  Isna,  "I 
guard  this  ford  for  Finn,  and  never,  I  warn  you, 
shall  I  allow  a  foe  of  his  to  pass." 

"Force  the  ford,"  cried  the  Irla  to  his  knights, 
"then  shall  we  see  if  yonder  hero  can  fight  as 
well  as  he  threatens." 

So  Insa  defended  the  ford  and  when  the  con- 
flict was  over,  the  shore  was  heaped  with  the 
bodies  of  the  slain.  Those  of  the  combatants 
who  remained  alive  fled  away  and  Isna  was 
fain  to  rest  after  the  long  hard  fray. 

But  the  Irla,  seeing  so  many  of  his  knights 


2-2S  GAELIC   FOLK  TALES 

slain,  was  mad  with  wrath,  and  snatching  up  his 
sword  and  shield  he  attacked  Isna.  Now  the 
Irla  was  fresh  and  strong,  while  Isna  was  weary 
and  sore  wounded ;  and  at  length  the  young  war- 
rior fell  in  the  ford,  and  the  Irla  beheaded  him 
and,  exulting  in  his  victory,  brought  the  head 
away.  , 

Finn  and  his  companions,  sitting  in  miserable 
plight,  in  the  Palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees  heard 
the  clash  of  arms  at  the  ford,  and  the  shouts  and 
groans  of  warriors.  After  a  time  all  was  still 
again  and  they  knew  not  how  the  fight  had 
ended. 

The  Irla  returning  to  the  palace  of  the  island, 
overtook,  Ficna,  reconnoitering  near  the  palace 
gate.  Ficna  spoke  to  the  Irla  and  asked  him 
whither  he  had  come. 

"I  come,"  replied  the  Irla,  "from  the  ford  of 
the  palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees,  and  lo,  I  bring 
with  me  the  head  of  a  young  champion,  who  op- 
posed our  passage,  and  slew  our  knights,  as  we 
were  on  our  way  to  take  Finn,  the  son  of  Cumal. 
And  lo,  here  thou  mayest  behold  the  head  of  the 
defender  of  the  ford;  for  him  have  I  slain  in 
fierce  and  single  combat,  and  I  bring  this  gory 
trophy  to  Sinsar  of  the  battles,  King  of  Greece/' 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  229 

"Alas,  dear  youth,"  said  Ficna,  "only  this 
morning  I  saw  the  light  of  valor  in  those  dim 
eyes,  and  the  bloom  of  youth  on  that  pale  cheek !" 

Then  wrathfully  he  spoke:  "Knowest  thou 
to  whom  thou  hast  shown  this  ghastly  witness 
of  thy  triumph?" 

"Art  thou  not  one  of  the  Knights  of  Sinsar?" 
asked  the  Irla. 

"I  am  not;  and  neither  shalt  thou  be  after  this 
hour,"  answered  the  Ficna,  drawing  his  sword. 
And  they  fought  where  they  stood;  and  the 
foreign  Irla  fell  by  the  avenging  hand  of  Ficna, 
the  son  of  Finn. 

Ficna  brought  the  Irla's  head  to  the  Palace  of 
the  Quicken  Trees  and  showed  it  to  Finn,  and 
related  all  his  adventures.  And  Finn,  hearing 
of  the  death  of  Isna,  wept  for  his  loved  one  slain 
and  then  he  said :  "Victory  and  blessing  be  with 
thee  my  son;  nobly  hast  thou  done,  and  now  re- 
turn and  guard  the  ford,  and  peradventure  our 
friends  may  send  help  in  time." 

So  Ficna  went  and  sat  on  the  brink  of  the 
ford. 

Now  Kiaran,  brother  of  the  slain  Irla,  seeing 
that  he  remained  away  so  long  from  the  palace 
of  the  island,  said  to  some  of  his  followers :  "It 


280  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

is  a  long  time  since  my  brother  left  for  the  palace 
of  the!  Quicken  Trees.  I  fear  that  he  and  his 
people  have  fared  ill  in  their  quest." 

And  Kiaran  went  to  seek  his  brother,  tak- 
ing with  him  a  company  of  knights.  When  they 
had  come  to  the  ford  they  saw  Ficna  at  the  far 
side,  and  Kiaran  called  out  and  asked  who  he 
was,  and  who  had  made  such  slaughter  at  the 
ford. 

"I  am  one  of  the  household  of  Finn,  the  son 
of  Cumal!"  answered  Ficna,  "and  by  his  com- 
mand I  guard  the  ford.  As  to  the  slaughter  of 
yonder  knights:  I  warn  you  come  not  to  this 
side  of  the  ford,  for  I  shall  reply  not  in  words 
but  in  deeds." 

Then  Kiaran  and  his  men  rushed  through  the 
water,  blind  with  rage,  and  after  a  fearful  con- 
flict, only  one  man  was  left  alive;  and  he  sped 
quickly  back  to  the  palace  of  the  island  to  tell  the 
tale,  leaving  Ficna  weary  and  wounded  on  the 
river  brink. 

Midac,  hearing  the  tidings,  was  very  wroth 
and  he  bethought  him  of  a  ruse:  Said  he: 
"Among  the  companions  of  Finn  is  Conan  Mnel, 
a  man  who  of  all  the  men  of  Eire  has  the  great- 
est appetite  and  is  fondest  of  eating  and  drink- 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF  QUICKEN   TREES  231 

ing.  To  him  will  I  go  with  a  choice  party  of  my 
own  brave  men,  and  bring  him  savory  food  and 
drink — not  indeed  to  delight  him  but  to  torment 
him  with  the  sight  and  smell  of  what  he  cannot 
taste. 

So  it  happened  that  Midac  and  his  men  were 
trying  to  force  the  ford  from  Ficna  when  Fatha 
and  Dyna  of  the  Bright  Face  were  on  their  way, 
from  the  hill  of  Knockfierna,  to  find  out  why 
their  companions  lingered  so  long  in  the  palace 
of  the  Quicken  Trees.  And  Fatha  said :  "I  hear 
in  the  distance  the  sound  of  single  combat;  the 
combat  of  mighty  heroes." 

"And  I  too,"  said  Dyna,  "hear  that  sound 
which  quickens  the  blood  in  every  warrior's 
heart,  let  us  hasten  to  the  scene  of  the  fray." 

They  ran  like  the  wind  until  they  reached 
the  hill-brow  over  the  river,  and  looking  across 
in  the  dim  moonlight,  they  saw  the  whole  ford 
heaped  with  bodies  of  the  slain,  and  the  two 
heroes  fighting  to  the  death  at  the  far  side. 
Dyna  hastened  to  the  spot  and  putting  his  finger 
in  the  silken  loop  of  his  spear,  threw  a  deadly 
cast  with  unerring  aim  and  struck  Midac  so  that 
the  iron  spear  head  went  right  through  his 
body  and  the  length  of  a  warrior's  hand  beyond. 

Fatha  [Faw' ha]. 


232  GAELIC  FOLK   TALES 

And  Midac,  knowing  that  he  was  wounded  to 
death  by  the  spear  of  Dyna,  struck  more  fiercely 
at  Ficna,  felling  him  to  the  earth,  upon  which  he 
too  sank  to  rise  no  more. 

Then  said  Dyna  to  Midac:  "If  I  had  found 
thee  dead,  I  would  have  passed  thee  untouched, 
but  now  that  I  have  overtaken  thee  alive,  I  must 
needs  behead  thee,  for  thy  head  will  be  to  Finn  a 
worthy  eric  for  his  son." 

And  Dyna,  forthwith,  left  Fatha  at  the  ford 
and  brought  the  head  of  Midac  to  Finn,  and 
Finn  having  listened  to  Dyna's  account  of  this 
last  conflict  said:  "Victory  and  blessings  be 
with  thee,  Dyna,  for  what  thou  hast  done;  and, 
I  pray  thee,  continue  to  aid  us  well  and  faithfully 
or  we  shall  certainly  perish.  Here  we  sit,  spell- 
bound, and  naught  else  but  the  blood  of  the  three 
fierce  kings  of  the  island  of  Torrent  sprinkled 
on  this  clay  can  release  us.  Guard  the  ford  until 
the  rising  of  the  sun,  for  then  I  know  the  Feine 
will  come  to  help  you." 

"O  Finn,  this  arm  shall  never  fail  thee;  and 
faithful  is  Fatha  to  the  king  of  Feine."  And  bid- 
ding his  friends  farewell,  Dyna  was  about  to  re- 
turn to  the  ford  when  Conan  Mael  said  with  a 
groan:  "Miserable  the  hour  in  which  I  came 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  233 

to  this  palace;  cold  and  comfortless  the  clay  on 
which  I  sit;  but,  worst  of  all  to  be  without  food 
and  drink  so  long.  There  is  plenty  of  wine  and 
savory  food  yonder  in  the  palace  of  the  island, 
Dyna,  and  I  beseech  you,  for  I  can  no  longer 
bear  this  torture,  bring  me  from  the  palace  as 
much  food  as  I  can  eat,  and  a  drinking  horn  of 
wine." 

"The  wind  of  misfortune  to  one  uttering  such 
selfish  words"  said  Dyna.  "It  is  not  enough 
that  we  must  defend  you  from  the  foreigners; 
but,  also,  food  must  be  procured  for  the  glutton- 
ous Conan  Mael!" 

"Alas,  Dyna-na-man,  if  a  lovely  maiden  made 
this  request,  you  would  fly  to  please  her ;  but  you, 
who  have  already  crossed  me  four  times  in  my 
courtships,  would  now  be  pleased  to  see  me  die 
of  hunger  in  this  dungeon." 

"Cease  your  upbraiding,  and  I  will  bring  you 
food,"  said  Dyna,  "for  it  is  better  to  face  danger 
than  to  suffer  revilings." 

So  he  went  back  to  where  Fatha  was  guard- 
ing the  ford,  and  said  to  him:  "I  needs  must 
go  to  the  Palace  of  the  Island  in  order  to  procure 
food  for  Conan  Mael." 

But  Fatha  told  him  of  the  food  which  Midac 

Dyna-na-man:  Dyna,  Favorite  of  women. 


234  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

had  placed  at  the  other  side  of  the  ford,  and 
urged  him  to  bring  a  good  meal  of  this  to  Conan. 

"If  I  did  that,"  said  Dyna,  "he  would  taunt 
me  with  bringing  him  food  taken  from  the  hands 
of  dead  men;  and,  from  his  blow  one  may  re- 
cover; but,  not  from  the  venom  of  his  tongue." 

Dyna  then  hastened  to  the  palace  and  as  he 
drew  near  he  heard  the  sound  of  revelry,  and 
peering  warily  through  the  open  door,  he  >n\v 
the  feast-tables  spread,  and  Sinsar  of  the  Battles 
and  his  son  Borba  high  seated  over  all.  Dyna 
entered  a  dark  passage  way,  near  the  door,  and 
standing  silent  and  stern,  with  drawn  sword, 
watched  his  opportunity  and  when  an  attendant. 
with  a  large,  ornamented  drinking  horn  filled 
with  wine,  passed  close  to  him  he  struck  off  his 
head  with  a  swift,  sure  blow  and  snatched  the 
horn  from  the  man's  hand,  before  he  fell.  So 
deftly  was  it  done  that  not  a  drop  of  wine  was 
spilt.  Dyna  was  able  also  to  obtain  a  dish  of 
food  from  near  where  the  King  sat  at  the  table, 
and  get  off  without  hindrance  or  harm  of  any 
kind. 

When  he  reached  the  ford  he  found  Fatha  ly- 
ing fast  asleep  on  the  bank.  This  caused  him 
to  wonder;  yet  knowing  the  young  warrior  was 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  235 

worn  out  with  watching  and  toil,  he  left  him 
undisturbed  and  went  to  the  palace  of  the 
Quicken  Trees  with  the  food  for  Conan. 

"I  have  here  a  goodly  meal  of  choice  food; 
how  am  I  to  give  it  to  thee,  Conan?"  called 
Dyna  as,  bearing  the  food  with  him,  he  stood 
outside  the  palace  under  the  low  branches  of  the 
Quicken  Trees. 

Said  Conan:  "Throw  it  towards  me  from 
yonder  little  opening." 

Dyna  did  so;  and  as  fast  as  he  threw  the  food, 
Conan  caught  it  in  his  large  hands  and  ate  it 
ravenously.  And  when  it  was  all  gone,  Dyna 
said:  "I  have  here  a  fine  drinking  horn  of  good 
wine;  how  am  I  to  give  it  to  thee?" 

Conan  answered:  "There  is  a  place  behind 
the  palace  where  with  a  light,  airy  bound 
you  will  be  able  to  reach  the  lower  parapet. 
Come  from  that  directly  over  me,  and  break  a 
hole  in  the  roof  with  your  spear,  and  through 
that  you  can  pour  the  wine  down  to  me."  Dyna 
did  as  Conan  told  him,  and  as  he  poured  down 
the  wine,  Conan,  with  upturned  face,  opened  his 
great  mouth  and  swallowed  every  drop. 

D.yna  then  returned  to  the  ford.  He  found 
Fatha  still  asleep  but  did  not  awaken  him. 


236  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

When  the  Kings  of  the  Island  of  the  Torrent 
heard  that  Midac  and  his  knights  were  slain  at 
the  ford  they  said:  "The  young  King  of  Loch- 
lann  did  wrong  to  make  this  attempt  without 
asking  our  council.  To  us  alone  belongs  the 
right  to  slay  those  who  by  our  spells  sit  bound  in 
the  Palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees." 

Thereupon  the  kings  with  a  strong  party  set 
out,  and  soon  reached  the  ford.  Looking  across 
in  the  dim  light  they  saw  Dyna  and  greeted  him, 
saying:  "The  countenance  of  a  pleasant  moon 
to  you,  O  Chieftain/'  and  with  fair  words  they 
sought  to  beguile  him  into  leaving  the  ford. 
But  Dyna  stood  up  straight  and  tall  as  a  pillar 
and  scowled  across  the  ford :  "The  wind  of  mis- 
fortune to  you,  perfidious  foreigners!  Attempt 
not  to  approach  the  Palace  of  the  Quicken  Trees, 
for  I  will  defend  the  ford  as  long  as  life  shall 
last" 

And  then  Dyna,  seeking  to  awake  Fatha,  there- 
with, cried:  "Pharra!  Pharra!"  the  battle  cry 
of  the  clans  of  Eire. 

The  hostile  knights  rushing  toward  Dyna  im- 
petuously assailed  him,  but  the  strong  hero  met 
them  as  a  rock  meets  waves  and  slew  them  when 
they  came  within  reach  of  his  sword.  The 

Pharra !  Pharra !     Beware  I  Beware  I 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  237 

crashing  of  weapons  and  the  riving  of  swords 
awaked  Fatha,  and  then  he  too  turned  and  at- 
tacked the  foe  and  many  a  knight  fell  at  his  right 
and  at  his  left. 

Long  and  furious  was  the  fight;  and  at  last 
the  three  dragon-like  kings  lay  slain  upon  the 
fateful  ford.  Dyna,  striking  off  their  heads,  re- 
turned followed  by  Fatha  to  the  Palace  of  the 
Quicken  Trees.  As  they  drew  near  the  door 
Finn,  knowing  their  voices  and  footsteps,  called 
loudly  to  know  how  it  fared  with  them:  "For," 
said  he,  "the  crashing  and  the  din  of  that  battle 
exceeded  all  that  we  have  yet  heard,  and  we 
know  not  how  it  has  ended." 

Dyna  made  haste  to  answer:  "O,  King  of 
the  Feine,  Fatha  and  I  have  slain  the  three 
Kings  of  the  Island  of  the  Torrent:  Lo,  here  are 
their  gory  heads!" 

"Victory  and  blessings  be  with  thee,  Dyna! 
You  and  Fatha  have  fought  a  valiant  fight, 
worthy  of  the  Feine  of  Eire.  Now  sprinkle  the 
door  with  blood." 

Dyna  did  so,  and  in  a  moment  the  door  flew 
open  with  a  loud  crash.  Pale  and  faint  the 
champions  sat  upon  the  cold,  clay  floor;  but  no 
sooner  was  it  sprinkled  by  the  blood  of  the  three 


238  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

kings  than  they  sprang  to  their  feet  with  exult- 
ing cries.  The  spell  was  indeed  broken,  and  joy- 
fully embracing  each  other  the  freed  heroes  gave 
thanks  to  Neid,  the  god  of  battle,  for  their  re- 
lease. 

But  danger  still  threatened,  and  Finn's  first 
thought  was  to  provide  against  it.  Said  he: 
"The  venom  of  these  odious  spells  has  withered 
our  strength,  so  that  we  are  not  able  to  fight, 
but  at  sunrise  they  will  lose  their  power,"  and 
returning  to  Dyna  and  Fatha  he  told  them  that 
they  must  guard  the  ford  until  the  rising  of  the 
sun,  when  he  and  his  knights  should  have  re- 
covered their  strength. 

A  few  who  had  escaped  from  the  last  battle 
at  the  ford  brought  back  tidings  to  Sinsar  of  the 
fate  of  the  Three  Kings.  But  of  the  release  of 
those  who  had  been  spellbound  in  the  Palace  of 
the  Quicken  Trees  they  could  not  tell,  as  they 
did  not  know  that  it  had  taken  place. 

When  Borba,  the  Haughty,  had  heard  the  ac- 
count of  defeat  and  death  at  the  ford,  he  arose 
and  said :  "Feeble  warriors  were  they  who  tried 
to  cross  this  ford.  Hither  I  shall  now  go,  and 
when  I  return  will  bring  the  head  of  Finn,  the 
son  of  Cumal,  and  place  it  at  my  father's  feet." 

Neid  [Na]. 


FAIRY   PALACE   OF   QUICKEN   TREES  -239 

And  marshaling  his  warriors  without  delay 
Borba  marched  forth ;  and  when  Dyna  and  Fatha 
saw  the  dark  mass  drawing  nigh  they  longed  in 
their  hearts  for  morning.  Not  of  themselves 
they  thought,  for  they  had  never  trembled  be- 
fore any  foe,  but  they  feared  the  danger  for  Finn 
and  his  warriors. 

Again  an  unequal  fight  was  filling  the  ford 
with  slaughter.  But  soon  the  sun  rose  over  the 
broad  plain  of  Kenri,  and  as  its  first  rays  glinted 
from  their  lances  the  withering  spell  went  forth 
from  the  bones  and  sinews  of  the  heroes  who 
had  been  imprisoned  in  the  palace  of  the  Quicken 
Trees.  Joyfully  they  snatched  up  their  arms  and 
hastened  down  to  the  ford.  But  Dathkin,  the 
strong  limbed,  they  sent  to  take  the  news  to 
Oisin  at  Knockfierna. 

The  beams  of  the  risen  sun  now  glittered 
bright  on  helmet  and  sword-blade  and  as  the 
fight  went  on,  Gaul,  son  of  Morna,  slew  Borba, 
the  Haughty. 

A  messenger  brought  the  news  of  his  son's 
death  to  Sinsar  and  his  people.  Cries  of  sor- 
row went  up  on  all  sides;  but  the  king  conceal- 
ing his  grief,  summoned  his  whole  host  and 
marched  them  toward  the  battlefield  of  the  ford. 


240  GAELIC  FOLK  TALES 

When  the  messenger  to  Knockfierna  had  told 
his  story,  the  entire  body  of  heroes  there  en- 
camped set  out  for  the  Palace  of  the  Quicken 
Trees,  and  arrived  on  the  hill-brow  over  the  ford 
just  as  Sinsar  and  his  army  approached  from 
the  opposite  side. 

And  now  the  fight  ceased  for  a  while  and  the 
two  armies  were  put  in  battle  array;  and,  on 
neither  side  was  there  any  desire  to  avoid  the 
combat. 

The  Feine  were  divided  into  four  battalions: 
Clan  Baskin;  Clan  Morna;  Clan  Smoil  and  I'lan 
Navnan,  and  together  they  marched  forward 
under  their  silken  banners.  Their  helmets  were 
bright  with  precious  gems,  their  broad,  beauti- 
ful shields  they  bore  on  their  left  shoulders; 
their  keen  edged  swords  hung  at  their  left  sides 
and  they  held  their  deadly  lances  in  their  hands. 
And  when  they  closed  in  conflict  such  display 
of  valor  had  never  before  been  seen  in  Eire. 

Oscar,  resting  for  a  moment  from  the  toil  of 
battle,  looked  around  and  saw  Sinsar  guarded 
by  his  best  warriors.  Rushing  through  the  op- 
posing ranks  he  drew  near  the  king.  Sinsar 
laughed  grimly  when  he  saw  him,  for  he  was 
glad  in  his  heart  expecting  to  revenge  his  son's 

Baskin:  Gaelic,  Baoiscene. 


FAIRY    PALACE   OF   QUICKEN    TREES  241 

death    by    slaying   with    his    own    hand   Finn's 
grandson. 

Then  these  two  great  heroes  fought  a  deadly 
battle  and  in  the  end,  Oscar,  with  a  blow  that 
no  shield  or  buckler  could  withstand,  swept  the 
head  from  Sinsar's  body.  Seeing  this  a  shout 
of  triumph  went  up  from  the  Feine,  and  the 
foreigners  instantly  gave  way  pursued  and  slain 
on  every  side.  A  few  threw  away  their  arms 
and  escaped  to  the  shore;  and,  hastily  unmoor- 
ing their  ships,  sailed  swiftly  away  to  their 
own  country,  and  the  winds  of  Eire  blowing 
across  the  waters  bore  to  their  ears  the  music  of 
a  triumphant  Dord  Fian. 


UN.VERS.TV  OP  CAUPORNU  I 

Los  Angeles 


wn 


JUL191974] 


FormL9-25m-8,'46(9852)444 


FORNU 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


•  •       •      ••       ••       ||       •  II     I  ||       I     I  I    I 

AA    000483854 


